Life Lessons: Reem Shaath

The Saudi adventure traveller tells us why her wanderlust is a major driving force in her life.

Reem Shaath, 34, was born in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, but her wanderlust has taken her around the globe. The creator of a boutique travel consultancy, she hopes to inspire others to discover new peoples and places. Earlier this year she completed a seven-day trek to Mount Kilimanjaro to raise money for the Palestine Children's Relief Fund.

1. If at first you don't succeed, keep walking. Life is unpredictable and you never know what it will throw at you. My life plan is somewhat hazily drawn but I'm always working towards new goals. Encountering hurdles in life is inevitable but you just have to deal with them and keep moving forward.

2. Doing what you have a passion for brings out the best in you, and this leads to greatness. If you have a passion for what you're doing you can achieve anything you put your mind to. I love the quote by St Augustine: "The world is a book, and those who do not travel, only read a page." My passion translates into all aspects of my life - from work, to family, to love and even to food. My passion for charity led to raising more than US$500,000 (Dh1.83million) for the Palestine Children's Relief Fund. incredible team, served as the basis for our successful climb to the top of Kilimanjaro.

3. Family comes first. A strong support system is vital for everyone. Always value and support those who care for you. I'm extremely fortunate to have a very close relationship with my family. Their continual support and faith in me gives me the courage I need to keep reaching for my goals.

4. You will never fulfil even a fraction of your potential by sticking to the safe and comfortable. I love pushing myself out of my comfort zone, and each year I attempt one huge personal challenge - be it physical, mental or professional. Challenging yourself means that you are not static - you are constantly improving and changing. With every experience, I discover new things about myself, traits or interests that I didn't know I had, which naturally lead to the next big adventure.

5. Smile, life is fun. I don't take myself too seriously. I have goals and dreams that I want to realise in my life, but what's the point of achieving them without a little fun? At the end of the day, it's not about the actual goal, it's how you get there and I would rather get there dancing.

As told to Jemma Nicholls