lululemon ambassadors are always up to amazing things. This October, Ted McDonald is taking a break from teaching yoga and promoting healthy living in Southern California to lead a life-changing trip to Ethiopia with Imagine1Day. The best part? There's an opportunity to be part of Ted's inspirational trip.

building schools & communities

Imagine1Day has a goal of bringing quality elementary school education to every child in Ethiopia. Most of us are familiar with the way in which Habitat for Humanity builds homes for communities in need. Rather than homes, Imagine1Day builds schools in small communities in Ethiopia. Imagine1Day spends three years working within each community to ensure that the programs can be sustainably maintained. They collaborate with the local communities and the Ethiopian government to train teachers and to teach families in the community to run profitable businesses. It's the educational equivalent of "give a man a fish and you'll feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you'll feed him for a lifetime."

who's educating whom?

Ted, who's been leading yoga retreats for eight years, has set a vision for this trip to "create a better world". "It's amazing to go to places like this and to meet people who would never imagine to have the kind of infrastructure, amenities, technology and support that we have in the West. Meeting people like that, to me, is one of the greatest ways to open your heart." Ted thinks that the ripple effect will continue long after he gets back State-side (although the focus of Imagine1Day is to create education opportunities in Ethiopia, a large component of their work is dispelling misconceptions about Ethiopia). "If anyone has an interest in elevating their own lives and the lives of others," says Ted, "they should definitely come on this trip."

the trip in a nutshell

get involved

• Contact Imagine1Day & pack your bags. There are spots available on the trip.
  
• Meet some 'creatributors' and see how it all works.
• Help by doing something you love. Become a 'creatributor'.

Above: Alex in her new pair of perfectly fitting Groove Pants. 

I recently had a guest experience that has impacted me on so many levels that I had to share it.

A young woman named Alex and her little sister were in the changing room having the little sister's pants hemmed. Alex was trying on one of our new hoodies and trying to decide between two colours. After deciding that the one with the pink stripes fit nicely the little sister made a comment about how Alex wouldn't have fit into that hoodie a few months ago.

Always curious to learn more about our guests I asked Alex what her sister meant. She told me that she is 20 years old and that she was a size 24 in January. At that time her doctor told her that she had to lose weight and change her habits or the long-term impact on her health and life would have severe consequences. Since her doctor's warning Alex has revolutionized her lifestyle – incorporating healthy eating and regular exercise. To date she has lost an amazing sixty pounds.

Alex then said that her "goal has been to fit into a pair of lululemon pants."

While the girls got changed, I grabbed our incredible store manager and told her that I really wanted to do something to demonstrate that lululemon is a goal-oriented and health conscious team would support Alex in her goal. Rebecca asked me what I wanted to do. "I want to give her that first pair of pants," I said. I was floored when Rebecca responded with "Do it!"

Pulling Alex aside, I said "we are really proud of the changes that you have made to live a better life and that you have made our company a part of them. We are going to give you that pair of pants that you have set as your goal. If they don’t fit today, you can come back when you are ready. But let’s go give it a try now!"

Nervous as to whether or not she would fit into the pants, I suggested we grab the Groove Pants that matched her hoodie. She went back into the change room to put them on. When she came out the pants fit her perfectly. She achieved her goal without even knowing it.

Ultimately Alex took the pants and hoodie home, hopefully as proud of her accomplishment as our team was of her for completing her goal.

It was an amazing thing that the lululemon athletica Rideau Centre team did to support this young woman and it was personally rewarding to be a part of it. I wish Alex the best of luck in accomplishing her next goal.

By putting your goals out there you have a better chance of building the support network required to achieve them. How do you put your goals out there? How do you support others?