I spent three and a half months in South America in 2003. I travelled south from Rio to the tip of Argentina at Ushuaia, then back up the other side through Bolivia and Peru to Quito in Ecuador.

One of the best quarter years of my life. We saw glaciers, icebergs, rainforest, beach, waterfalls, fjords, tropical parrots, llamas and Incan ruins. Ate guinea pig and drank mojitos.

And one of the songs I heard repeatedly over that time had the above line.

“This life is more than just a read through” – quote from Red Hot Chilli Peppers.

I used to get my friends to listen out for that line. One of the drivers of the overland truck we used had (it seemed) very few CDs, so we often heard the album this is on.

Whilst I was travelling, I felt my life was not a rehearsal, not just a read through, but I was really living. Some of that was being somewhere beautiful. Experiencing new things. Seeing new places, new countries. Going to a St Patrick’s party in a multi storey car park in Buenos Aires. Jumping off a bridge on a bridge swing. Horse riding through the Andes and through the lush green landscape of Ecuador. Lots of lying in hammocks. And drinking Cuba Libres.

And a long way from rush hours and having to bill my time by the 15 minute slot (will be familiar to lots of you!).

It was also about fulfilling a long held dream. There were lots of practical reasons not to go off backpacking in my ’30s. Lots of more sensible things to do with the money, maybe. But following that dream – and having a great time – made me feel alive. Extra alive!

We only have one life to live right now here on earth. Whatever our beliefs about an after life.

I feel alive right now too. I’m very excited about the work I do with people. Helping them to overcome the fears and insecurities that stop them living the life they really want. Coaching has helped me personally in many ways and I love to see others make changes too.

ACTION CHALLENGE: Do you have dreams? Dreams of starting your own business, living in France or taking up the clarinet? Let me encourage you to listen to your heart rather than that negative gremlin on your shoulder. I have two suggestions. Firstly find someone who will believe in your dream to support you. Secondly, identify one thing you could do this week which would move you closer to that dream and take that baby step.