Those who wander, who challenge the limits and let their dreams guide them, have made a true impact on the world. We wanted to take a moment to highlight 9 women who chose to wander from the expectations and norms, redefine the rules, and embrace the wonder in the unknown. We hope they inspire you to reach for your goals. To try something new. Chase your dreams. And help you find the joy in wandering.
Amelia Earhart: In honor of Amelia Earhart Day on July 24th, there is no better place to start. Recognized as the first female pilot to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean in 1932, Amelia Earhart set the stage for women to blaze their own paths. According to this research, Earhart was known for encouraging women to reject constrictive social norms and to pursue various opportunities, especially in the field of aviation. In 1929, she helped found an organization of female pilots that later became known as the Ninety-Nines. Earhart’s love of flying started after her first airplane ride in 1920 which prompted her to take flying lessons. By 1921, she bought her first plane and went on to set records for longest distances and highest altitudes flown.
Oprah Winfrey: There’s no question why Oprah made our list. Best-known for her talk-show, The Oprah Winfrey Show, Oprah displayed a knack for conducting interviews with fascinating people and covering hard-hitting topics, connecting with her audience emotionally, and reaching deep for truth and understanding. Though her life started out in poverty, Oprah has worked her way up into the top ten of America’s richest self-made women according to this Forbes article. After hosting her talk show for 25 years, she went on to creating her own network called, you guessed it, OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network. And though Oprah has shown us many things, we hold onto her words as we joyfully wander: “The biggest adventure you can ever take is to live the life of your dreams.”
Brené Brown: “Courage over comfort” is the motto Brené Brown leans on in her life. Full of thought-provoking research combined with relatable stories, Brown dares people to live their life being vulnerable, willing to listen and learn, and with a heart toward connection. Brown is a research professor at the University of Houston and a visiting professor in management at The University of Texas at Austin McCombs School of Business, an author, podcaster, and a true guiding light. Her ability to wander through the mess right along with us makes her all-the-more special, and helps us understand that we are not alone. “Owning our story and loving ourselves through that process is the bravest thing that we will ever do,” said Brown.
Mariel Hemingway: You can often find Mariel Hemingway walking through the mountains of Southern California barefoot, finding energy in the earth below her feet, connecting her to the spiritual healing of nature. A longtime advocate of mental and physical health, she finds personal power, life balance, authenticity, joy and finding peace of mind through a devoted practice of healthy living. She encourages people to stay present and in the moment, instead of focusing on fear, anxiety and worry. "We don't remember days. We remember moments." said Hemingway. Enjoy more of Hemingway’s wisdom in the Weekly Walk Podcast here.
Junko Tabei: A Japanese mountaineer, Tabei was not only the first woman to reach the summit (the highest peak) on Mt. Everest, but also the first woman to summit the highest mountain on all seven continents, a feat referred to as the Seven Summits. Tabei’s interest in mountain climbing began as a child after a class trip, and she went on to form the Joshi-Tohan Club (Women's Mountaineering Club) in 1969 whose slogan was “Let's go on an overseas expedition by ourselves.” She then led the first all-women’s expedition to the top of Mt. Everest in 1975 and continued her ascent to the top of the Seven Summits by 1992.
Cheryl Strayed: Known for her memoir “Wild” about her solo hike on the Pacific Crest Trail during the summer of 1995, Strayed is a true example of perseverance and taking chances, and learning about how truly healing nature can be. The book was made into a movie in 2014 and depicted Strayed’s real-life struggle throughout her journey, from having too-small shoes, the wrong gas for her stove, and running out of water. But also how she overcame those challenges as well as mental pain from her past. When asked if she still hikes, she responded “Yes. It's one of my favorite things to do.”
Emma “Grandma” Gatewood: In 1955, at the age 67, Grandma Gatewood was the first woman to hike the entire Appalachian Trail alone, in one continuous journey. She set out on the 2050 mile trek wearing only canvas shoes and carrying a small sack of supplies draped over her shoulders. Why did she set out on such a big adventure? “I wanted to see what was on the other side of the hill,” she told a reporter. For a heartwarming look at more of her story, check out this video.
Bessie Coleman: Coleman fought hard to realize her dream of becoming a pilot. Due to race discrimination in the United States, she learned French and was accepted at the Caudron Brothers School of Aviation in Le Crotoy, France in 1920. On June 15, 1921, she became the first American woman to obtain an international pilot’s license from the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale and trained to specialize in parachuting and stunt flying. Coleman returned to the United States, but because of race and gender issues, she was not able to fly commercially, so she continued her career with stunt flying, or barnstorming. According to this research, she staged the first public flight by an African American woman in America on Labor Day, September 3, 1922, and frequently encouraged the Black community to consider an interest in aviation while speaking at schools and churches.
Kathrine Switzer: It was a hard-fought race for Kathrine (K.V.) Switzer, the first woman to run the Boston Marathon, but she would soon make a huge impact on the world of running. With no mention of gender in the Boston Marathon rule book, Switzer registered for the 1967 race using her official Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) number, paid the race fee, acquired a certificate of fitness and signed the form how she often does - K.V. Switzer. On race day, however, she was labeled as an interloper by race officials and was attacked by the race manager who attempted to rip off her race bib during the race. “I had no idea I was going to become part of that history. I wasn’t running Boston to prove anything; I was just a kid who wanted to run her first marathon,” wrote Switzer in her memoir Marathon Woman. Swtizer’s plight resulted in the AAU barring women from being in competitions with men, but 5 years later, in 1972, also spurred the Boston Marathon to establish an official women’s race.