The document summarizes a newsletter about overcoming adversity after a car accident. It describes the author's injuries from the accident and decision to set a goal to complete the Overland Track in Tasmania to aid their rehabilitation. It discusses how achieving this goal helped with the healing process and forced the author to alter their plans. The newsletter provides tips on overcoming adversity by counting blessings and setting goals, and promotes the author's speaking engagements and DVD about the Overland Track hike.

1. Pilot your life
Welcome to issue no. 5 of Pilot your life. November 2009
A few years ago, while driving through the Adelaide Hills with three
other pilot friends, I had a head on collision with an American driving
on the wrong side of the road. We were all injured and took
considerable time to recover.
In my case, I had neck, back, knees, feet and hand injuries. Quite
devastating physically, emotionally and financially. I also had to
endure months of rehabilitation while at the same time fluctuating
through bouts of anger, depression, self pity and resentment.
However, I had survived an accident and it could have been worse. So to help myself
through this, I decided that one of the first ways to begin overcoming adversity was to
count my blessings. I wrote down as many positives that I could think of, the first being that
we were all alive.
My plans for the next few years had to be put on hold while I was recovering. However, to
progress beyond this devastating life event I had to set myself a goal.
I decided that to help my rehabilitation I would prove that nothing was going to slow me down
permanently. I was going to walk Tasmania’s Overland Track – a six day eighty kilometre
hike from Cradle Mountain to Lake St Clair.
Like for my flight around the coastline, I planned and prepared. I worked out at the gym to
strengthen my leg muscles, did weight training in order to carry my backpack, and I walked
kilometres with my pack to increase my stamina and endurance.
Setting and achieving my goal aided my healing process.
Taking my time on the track meant that I was really able to appreciate the country that I was
walking through and to photograph its many moods.
In retrospect, maybe this was the accident that I had to have. I’ve been forced to divert from
my original track and alter my course to explore different possibilities that I otherwise
wouldn’t have dreamt of.
Sometimes adversity is just a strong crosswind blowing us onto our new heading.

2. Pilot your life
So, my next great tips for how to pilot your life (personal or business) are:
Overcome adversity by first counting your blessings.
Then set and achieve your goals so you can get back on track.
Two of my presentation topics are:
Surviving an accident/Overcoming adversity
Setting and achieving goals
To experience a little bit of the Overland Track, email me at fran@franwest.com and
I'll send you a photo which you can use as your desktop wallpaper.
Visit: www.franwest.com
Phone: 61 8 82706623
Email: fran@franwest.com for speaking engagements, purchases and the first four issues of
the newsletter.
To see more of this challenging walk while you're waiting for the next newsletter, the
following is available from me at fran@franwest.com.
Tasmania’s Overland Track – DVD
A movie presentation of over 260 photos (without captions) highlighting the magnificent
mountain terrain of the six day eighty kilometre walk from Cradle Mountain to Lake St Clair in
Tasmania’s World Heritage wilderness. Discover the many moods of the track as it passes
through forest and moor land, alongside peaks and waterfalls, and reveals delicate
wildflowers and secluded creeks. The background music provides a relaxing and peaceful
accompaniment to one of the world’s great walks.
Duration: approximately 26 minutes.
Ideal for people of all ages as a present for birthdays or Christmas.
AUD $25.00 plus postage and packaging ($2.50 within Australia, $5.00 for rest of world).

3. Pilot your life
You are welcome to forward Pilot your life to others who may be interested.
If this newsletter has been forwarded to you by someone else, please contact me at
fran@franwest.com and I'll add you to my emailing list.
Bye for now,
Australia's Life Pilot
Speaker, Author, Adventurer
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