The sky’s the limit.
A common phrase to suggest there are no boundaries. You can do whatever you put your mind to.
And for one famous Canadian, not even the sky was the limit.
Chris Hadfield is a retired astronaut, and former commander of the International Space Station floating beyond our earthly skies. And he knows a thing or two about achieving a dream. He says he wanted to be an astronaut since he was 9 years old.
Hadfield was in Gatineau for the 2nd annual Hadfield Summit – an opportunity for him and other guest speakers to address hundreds of youth invited from clubs and community groups across the National Capital.
“I’ve been so lucky to done the things that I’ve done in the Air Force and then as an astronaut with the Space Agency,” he says. “So for me to have a chance to take the lessons that I’ve learned, the things that have allowed me to do some stuff that’s right on the edge of capability, and turn it into a message that a young Canadian can look at and think about what they might be able to do.”
“And of course they don’t have the same dreams I do,” Hadfield continues. “But the fact that some lesson I’ve learned hopefully will help them make good decisions in their own life so they can achieve the potential they were born with.”
For Hadfield it’s all about making decisions. Decisions that point you to your goal or decisions that will simply help you improve as a person. “The biggest change you can possibly affect is within yourself, and you turn yourself into who you’re going to be,” he says.
Joining Hadfield in his summit were former Prime Minister Jean Chrétien and Ret. Lt. Col. Maryse Carmichael, the first woman to fly with and command the Canadian Forces Snowbirds.
The event was part of the Vintage Wings of Canada Airshow and Open House at the Gatineau Airport.
