Fatima Narvaez is the Marketing Manager at Parks Foundation Calgary and the founder of Women’s Adventure Network, a volunteer nonprofit that gets immigrant women rock climbing in Calgary.
She’s a big believer in embracing the outdoors as a lifelong school for adaptation because it propels us to achieve feats, build resilience, and reach our personal summits.
//Takeaways
Seeing someone like you do things you've never imagined yourself doing can do wonders for the mind. Most women who join Fatima's events often start unsure or with the limiting belief that "they don't have the strength" required to climb. Then they see others like them doing it, try, and before you know it, they're in love with climbing. Does this sound like a particular topic our politicians love to use to score points these days?
Local rituals like mountain climbing are a great way to integrate into your new home. If climbing isn't your thing, you could try Nordic skiing, skating, or curling. They can also help combat the isolation that can set in during those early stages of settling down.
Sometimes, what holds us back as newcomers to Canada is a belief we formed before we even gave ourselves permission to try. With Fatima's group, it was "I probably don't have the arm strength." I suspect many of us carry a version of that when it comes to asking for a raise, networking, or posting on LinkedIn.
//Links
Connect with Fatima Narvaez on LinkedIn
Check out the Women Adventure Network’s Website
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