"I'm scared but I know I can do this."

Spoken by my four-year-old daughter one afternoon, as she clung to a gnarly climbing rock at the playground.

Funny story: this mirrored my thoughts just days earlier, on my first 3-day backcountry trip when I was summiting Old Snowy, in the Goat Rocks Wilderness near Mt. Rainier.

I don’t like heights. They give me vertigo.

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So as I navigated the final scramble to the summit, trying not to look beyond my own feet, I repeated a version of Rosie's words: just take the next best step. You can do this. ​

Fast forward to the playground. Rosie got stuck and her panic began to bloom. Before it escalated, I calmly reminded her of her own words.

"Do you remember what you told me 5 minutes ago?" I ask gently.
"You told me: I'm scared but I know I can do this."

In an instant, I could see a new energy, and confidence, surge through her.

"Can you say that again?" she asked. "That really helped me."

So, I did. "I'm scared but I know I can do this." We repeated it together, over and over, until she climbed to the end triumphantly, heart full and proud.

That moment became an important lesson for me.

• The words we say to ourselves have immense power, especially when fear creeps in.
• Sometimes we need to be reminded of what we already know, but have forgotten - because we're scared.
• Also, that kids have an incredible way of revealing truths we often overlook.

I'm adopting Rosie's mantra, by the way.

​It's a simple yet powerful reminder that growth often lies just beyond your comfort zone: "I'm scared, but I know I can do this."

Stay playful - try something outside your comfort zone

When's the last time you tried something that made your heart race - what did you learn about yourself?

Warmly,

Allie

P.S. If you're interested in exploring your own edges, I'm going to be opening spaces on my next trip to Nepal (April 24 - May 5, 2026) soon. Send me an email if you want more details.