White Whale Whispers: A Love Letter to Those Who Dare to Live


White Whale Whispers

Hello Reader

I've been thinking about what happens when we chase something bigger than ourselves. In this newsletter you'll find my thoughts on pursuing the impossible - like for example, my upcoming Greenland crossing.

Also, I have two two new posts on Insights that you can check out. One addressing the reality of life as a safari guide (the response has been overwhelming - thank, you!), and another exploring why we struggle to name what we're feeling.

Let's get into it.

A Love Letter to Those Who Dare to Live

There's a voice that whispers in your head at random time of the morning. You know the one. It speaks of dreams so vast they make your chest tight, of adventures that taste like fear and possibility mixed together. Most people roll over, pull the covers tight, and try to silence it.

But you're not most people, are you?

I'm working towards crossing the 540 kilometers of Greenland's ice sheet in 2026 - one of the most brutal environments on Earth. The next step in this journey is a 11 day expedition in Svalbard which kicks off in just under three weeks. All of this is not for glory. Not for recognition. But because sometimes the only way to silence the darkness inside is to walk straight into a different kind of darkness altogether.

Like many of you, I battle demons. The kind that make ordinary days feel like walking through quicksand. The kind that whisper "you can't" on repeat until it becomes a symphony of doubt. But I've discovered something profound on the ice in Svalbard last year - something I need you to understand.

The things that terrify you? They're not warnings to stop. They're invitations to begin.

We get one life. One single, precious collection of heartbeats. And too many of us spend them existing instead of living, planning instead of doing, waiting for permission that will never come.

Let's be clear. This isn't about my expedition. This is about YOUR white whale. That thing that makes your heart race when you dare to think about it. That dream you've buried under layers of "someday" and "maybe when."

Because here's what happens when you chase something that scares you. The internal noise - that constant static of self-doubt, anxiety, and fear - it doesn't disappear. But it changes. It transforms from a paralyzing scream into a battle cry.

Last years on Svalbard's ice, I learned that memories worth having aren't created in comfort zones. They're forged in moments of holy shit what am I doing and I can't believe I'm actually here. They're born in the seconds between terror and triumph, in the space where courage and fear dance together.

Your white whale might not be a polar crossing. Maybe it's starting that business. Writing that book. Having that conversation. Making that change that both thrills and terrifies you. It doesn't matter what it is. What matters is that it calls to you, that it scares you, that it makes you feel alive just thinking about it.

Because that feeling? That's not fear. That's recognition. Your soul recognizing something that could change everything.

We're not meant to just exist. We're meant to burn bright, to push boundaries, to discover what we're made of. Every time you choose comfort over courage, you're not just turning down an adventure - you're turning down a chance to discover who you really are.

I'm crossing Greenland because I've learned that the best way to fight internal darkness is to pursue something bigger than yourself. Something that demands everything you've got. Something that doesn't just distract you from the shadows, but transforms them into fuel.

This is your call to arms. Your invitation to live fully, completely, terrifyingly alive. To pursue something that makes your pulse race and your mind spin with possibilities.

Because one day, your heartbeat will stop. And in that moment, what will matter isn't the comforts you maintained or the safety you clung to. What will matter are the moments you dared. The times you said yes when everything inside you screamed no. The stories you'll leave behind.

Your white whale is waiting. And it's not just about the achievement - it's about who you become in the pursuit. It's about the person you discover when you're stripped down to nothing but will and determination. It's about the life you build when you finally, finally decide to live instead of just exist.

Don't wait for permission. Don't wait for perfect. Don't wait for ready.

The time is now. The call is yours to answer.

What will your story be?

Here's the truth about expeditions like this - they're not solo journeys. They're carried on the shoulders of every person who believes in the power of chasing impossible dreams. This crossing isn't just my white whale - it's a beacon for everyone who's ever stood at the edge of their own impossible. Every donation isn't just funding gear or logistics - it's fueling a statement about what happens when we refuse to let our dreams stay dreams.

If this story stirs something in you, if you feel that familiar pull toward your own extraordinary, consider being part of this journey. Your support doesn't just help cross an ice sheet - it declares to the world, and to yourself, that impossible things happen when we dare to chase them.

Join me on this journey. Not just across Greenland's ice, but into the heart of what it means to truly live.

Because sometimes the biggest risks aren't the ones we take - they're the ones we don't.

Your white whale is calling.

Answer it.

Insights

On Insight this week I have two new posts for you. First up is last week's post that recently hit Instagram - the response from industry guides has been nothing short of overwhelming. Their raw, honest reactions confirm what I suspected: these words needed to be said. My hope is that it creates even the smallest ripple of positive change for those working in the field.

The second piece dives into something we all struggle with: putting names to the storms inside us. Ever notice how emotions feel clearer once you can label them? There's a reason for that confusion, and understanding it might just help you make sense of why you feel the way you do.

This Is Why You Feel Like You Do

There's a fundamental glitch in being human. We lack the words to explain what's actually happening inside us.

A Letter To Safari Guides

This isn’t just about surviving in the industry – it’s about building a life that can sustain both your passion and your peace.

iPhone Image of the Week

This image was taken on a photo walk with the Chicago Photography Classes. If you're ever in the area, check them out. I was invited along, and I shot the entire day with my iPhone. We had the opportunity to get a (kind of) aerial view of Cloud Gate (or The Bean), and the colors that time of year were just spectacular.

Header Image: An iPhone shot from my Orca and Northern Lights trip up in northern Norway - one of the most moody and incredible experiences I've ever had in that part of the world.

Next week I will be breaking down the anatomy of fear - and why it might be the best compass you've ever had!

Other than that, loads of rucking and tyre drags and preparation mixed in with travel planning and coaching clients. #LFG

If you know of anybody who might enjoy this newsletter, it would be amazing if you would forward it to them.

Have a great week and stay safe.

And as always, don't forget to be awesome.

Mindset & Performance Coach | International Expedition Leader Speaker & Presenter | Photographic Educator | Co founder of Wild Eye

My Website Links

Fairland, Johannesburg, Gauteng 1732
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Gerry van der Walt

Weekly thoughts from the edge where comfort ends and reality begins. Raw insights on pushing limits, facing fears, and moving forward when everything screams stop. No carefully curated inspiration or polished self-help - just honest truth from someone navigating both physical extremes and human potential. For those battling inner demons, chasing impossible dreams, or simply tired of playing safe. Because transformation isn't about motivation. It's about movement. Into the unknown, where hands shake and doubts whisper, but you keep moving anyway.

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