You never know how close you are to a great story.

I (Justin) learned that on my recent trip to Africa on my way to hike Mt. Kilimanjaro.

Boarding my flight I met Caitlin James as she was on her way to climb the very same mountain.

The more I heard from her, the more I realized I had come across a truly amazing story.

Caitlin was paralyzed in a boating accident.

Through surgery and rehab, she eventually regained the ability to walk.

Walking was just the start though.

She jokingly said if she could walk again she'd climb a mountain in a banana suit...and that's exactly what she did.

That first mountain hooked her, and she has racked up an insanely impressive list of summits in just a couple of years.

This story may not seem relevant to some for this show, but we thought it made perfect sense.

Many people want to do something adventurous, travel, and spend their days outside instead of behind a computer.

These reasons are what drive them to retire.

But Caitlin isn't waiting for retirement to live out her dreams and pursue her passions.

Instead, she is making her passions her career.

Caitlin reinvented herself and her career. Check out her expeditions over the last couple of years:

NORTH AMERICADENALI Alaska 20,310MT WHITNEY, California 14,505MT RAINIER, Washington 14,411MT HELEN, Washington 10,786

SOUTH AMERICAACONCAGUA 22,837 (Normal route)Ojos del Salado 22,615(Argentinian side)

PERUCordillera Blanca Range;Huascaran 22,205Chacraraju 20,039Salkantay 20,574Ausangate Nevado trek;Machu Picchu 7,972Huayna Picchu 8,835Rainbow Mountain 17,060Nevado Ausangate 20,945Nevados Ojos del Salado 22,569

ECUADORChimborazo 20,549

EUROPEMONT BLANC 15,777MATTERHORN 14,692The EIGER 13,642The ALPHUBEL 13,799DOLOMITES 10,968MONTE ROSA 15,203

BRITISH COLUMBIAMT LOGAN 19,551MT FAIRWEATHER 15,325MT ROBSON 9,281 FT

AFRICAKilimanjaro, 19,341 (3x in two years)Umbwe, Marangu, Machame RouteMt Meru 14,980Cape Town 3,563

CHILETorres Del Paine (Patagonia)

JAPANMT Fuji 12,388MT Tsurugi 9,839NEPALEBC TREK 17,598LOBUCHE 20,062ISLAND PEAK 20,252MANASLU C3 23,622

INDONESIASUMATRA 12,484

AUSTRALIAMT KOSCIUSZKO 7,310MT TOWNSEND 7,247GREAT OCEAN WALK 240 Kilo/149miles

We hope this inspires you to consider how you can chase your dreams now and not feel as though your life is chained up until retirement.

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Caitlin on InstagramCaitlin's WebsiteCaitlin on TikTokCaitlin on Facebook

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