Impossible is a Dare
Page 13
If I’d waited until the time was perfect, until I was perfect, Hope for Justice would never have happened. Perfectionism is the enemy of a pioneering spirit: when you’re trying to achieve something new and outrageous, there’s no way of really knowing if you’re ready; you just have to take a leap. We weren’t ready; we didn’t know what would happen; we didn’t know how to do it. This is one reason why I’m so glad I’ve been surrounded by people with so much knowledge and expertise, to ensure we’re professional and responsible in every area of our work. I’m not saying we hide our struggles or pretend to have skills we don’t have. We don’t try to be perfect – we try to be real; for us, being real involves not giving in to fear and doubt, and believing that some things are worth fighting for, tooth and nail.
At Hope for Justice we aim high and often punch above our weight. We try so hard not to become cynical and negative, because if you aim for the impossible, sometimes you actually achieve it. You have to make yourself vulnerable and risk disappointment in order to reach things no-one thinks you can. There are people living free from slavery because we reach for things others say are impossible. We say we want to end slavery – this isn’t a strapline. People tell me it’s impossible, that it will never happen, that the problem is too big. Your ‘impossible’ might feel the same. But if you don’t even aim for it, then there’s no chance you’ll achieve it. You’ve been given your unique vision for a reason. Don’t tell me it’s impossible. Impossible is just a dare.