Do you sometimes feel your dreams are elusive, as if each time you reach for them, they slip through your fingers? Our journeys don’t always lead us down a straight path. Sometimes there are detours or long periods of waiting before we can accomplish our goals. What we need is patience and perseverance, attributes that are not always cultivated in our fast-paced, just-do-it, get-your-fix-now culture. This is why Rina’s story is such a breath of fresh air. The dedication, patience, and hard work she put into becoming a small business owner, despite many challenges, is the inspiration I needed to keep me going during this crazy year.

I loved chatting with Victoria. You can tell she’s passionate about what she does, and it’s not just mountain biking, although that’s undoubtedly part of it. For her, it’s about how the sport has the potential to empower women and boost their confidence, something she’s experienced first-hand. But it wasn’t always like this. Before she even tried mountain biking, Victoria worked a high-stress job that left her at the edge of her mental and physical reserves. One day she tried mountain biking with her partner, Wessel: She fell, she cried and got frustrated. But through her unwavering determination, she went on to become a certified instructor! Now she’s running her own business, Ride like a Girl, where she teaches other women the skills they need to feel confident on their bikes. This is Victoria’s story.

Making a living as an artist is challenging. How do you stay true to your art, develop your career, and earn an income without quitting to ‘get a real job’? This is Josh’s story. He believes that not only can you survive as an artist, but that you can thrive.