What’s Your Everest?

PRACTICAL APPROACH TO CLIMB CAN TURN DREAMS INTO REALITY

On this day in 1953, Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay, his Sherpa guide, took the fi nal steps to reach the summit of Mount Everest, the highest point on the planet.

They braved extreme cold, unpredictable weather and dangerously low oxygen levels in a climb of fi ve and a half miles above sea level - one of the most difficult endeavors a human could undertake - to turn a dream into reality.

Since then hundreds more have reached the summit and made their own dreams come true. Though the climb itself is still considered a great feat, the word “everest” has come to describe many kinds of challenges, not just physical.

Lawrence Thompson, a psychotherapist at Wellspring Healthcare Associates in Rogers, said a practical approach is key to reaching any goal, large or small. He said people should accept the reality of the situation, including their shortcomings, when working toward a goal.

“It’s not biting oft more than we can chew; it’s setting goals that are going to be a challenge to us,” he said.

In honor of the 60th anniversary of Hillary’s and Norgay’s accomplishment, NWA Media asked people around Northwest Arkansas, “What’s Your Everest?”

HOLLY BOHANNAN

Age: 36

Hometown: Rogers

Occupation: Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist for Northwest Medical Center

What’s Your Everest?: Run a half-marathon in less than two hours

Bohannan, a wife and mother of a 4-year-old, ran her first half marathon in April in Nashville, Tenn.

Getting into sports to stay fit as she got older has always been a goal, she said. Her motivation to start now, though, was her sister, who at 50 ran her first half marathon and at 51 completed her first marathon.

“This one I just did to see if I could finish,” Bohannan said of the half marathon.

“I ran track in high school, the two-mile, and I couldn’t ever finish without walking. I ran the half without walking. Now I want to improve my time.”

Bohannan said she needs to reduce her time by 11.5 minutes to reach her goal.

MISSY GIPSON

Age: 35

Hometown: Fayetteville

Occupation: Executive director of Young Actor’s Guild in Fort Smith

What’s Your Everest?: Balancing creative needs and family needs

Gipson, wife and mother of a 4-year-old and a 2-yearold, said having children changed her priorities.

After college Gipson worked as an oft -Broadway actress in New York City for a few years before moving to Atlanta to work on music with her husband, Chase.

The two play together as Chase Missy.

“Before, I was very me oriented,” she said. “Then I had kids and I realized I can’t really be that way. … there’s a time and a place.”

Gipson said she is OK with tempering her goal of directing professionally until her children get a bit older.

“I’m making sure I’m working, but I’m also super involved with my kids because they are so little,” she said.

One day, Gipson said, she would like to own an arts company with her husband where their children could be involved and she couldbe around her family all the time while being creative.

GREG AND LISA STEE

Ages: 42 and 45

Hometown: Bella Vista

Occupations: Warehouse worker at Walmart Distribution Center and disabled

What’s Your Everest?: Dealing with challenges of life while making sure Lisa is healthy

This year has been rough for the Stees, they said. Since January, they have had five deaths in the family and have been displaced from their home during repairs from their septic system backing up. Lisa suffers from multiple sclerosis and post-traumatic stress disorder. Once she can go two months without convulsions, she will undergo spinal surgery, she said.

“There’s times when it’s an insurmountable task,” Greg Stee said. “You could go Cocoa Puffs with the year we’ve had so far.”

Even so, the Stees say their faith in the Lord keeps them pushing forward.

“You gotta have the Lord in your life to help you through the trials,” Lisa Stee said. “If you didn’t have the adversity in life, you wouldn’t appreciate the good times.”

TONYA MCKIEVER

Age: 65

Hometown: Bella Vista

Occupation: Retired journalist

What’s Your Everest?: Eat better, exercise more, become more healthful

McKiever has tried before to live a more healthful lifestyle but said she’d “start with a bang and then fizzle out.” This time, though, sticking with a plan is more important because of her age, she said.

“Unfortunately I never thought it was all that important what one ate and the amount of exercise one got. … I never took it to heart,” McKiever said. “I realize now health in the most important thing.”

McKiever has been adding more fruits and vegetable to her diet to help her lose weight and just feel better, she said.

NATHAN TURNER

Age: 19

Hometown: Rogers

Occupation: Student

What’s Your Everest?: Surgeon General of the United States

Turner, a NorthWest Arkansas Community College student who will attend the University of Arkansas in the fall, said his love for medicine and public service led him to set this goal for himself.

“It’s every citizen’s duty to serve the public in one way or the other,” Turner said. “There are lots of things I could do to serve the country and my fellow citizens, but the surgeon general has the most influence.”

He plans to be a doctor of osteopathic medicine, establish a medical practice and “start mingling in the political side of things” to reach his goal, he said.

“You can’t just go straight there,” Turner said. “It’s a slow progression.”

MAREE-CLAIRE KEES

Age: 10

Hometown: Springdale

Occupation: Student

What’s Your Everest?: Doing a back handspring

Kees set this goal for herself “just because it looked fun,” she said.

She has taken gymnastic classes during the school year and practiced at home “all the time,” Kees said. Next month Kees will get to show off her new skill on the field before a Naturals baseball game.

Life, Pages 9 on 05/29/2013

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