The Dream or a Fearless Step into the Void
We often hear incredible stories of success achieved by one’s will, passion, and dedication. However, how often does it put one at risk of his life?
In the summer of 1947, Philippe Petit walked on a wire between the Twin Towers of the old World Trade Centre, at the height of 411 m. For 45 minutes, he made eight passes from one roof to another, avoiding police on the both sides. He walked on the wire, sat on it, and even lied down - Philippe Petit dared to audaciously perform his dream regardless of the law, the risk, or the fear.
Image credit: AP/ The Telegraph
“The impossible - we are told - cannot be achieved. To overcome the 'impossible,' we need to use our wits and be fearless. We need to break the rules and to circumvent - some would one say to cheat.” (c) Philippe Petit
Philippe Petit was born in Nemours, France, in a bourgeois family. From an early age, his rebellious character made it clear that he didn't want to live an ordinary life. By 16 years old, Philippe tried magic, juggling, classical equesion, and even bullfighting, until, one day he saw his ‘path’ on the wire.
Most of his life, as a self-taught wire walker, he entertained the public illegally on the streets, as no circus agreed to work with him.
Image credit: Quotesgram / Teresa Grimes
He also walked between the bell-towers of the Notre-Dame Cathedral, shocking the Parisian public, in 1971. Two years later, the Sydney Harbour Bridge appeared on his record. These performances were the key stones on his path to "le coup" of the World Trade Center.
The idea to conquer the Twin Towers came instantly whe he saw its construction in a newspaper for the first time. He knew it was irrational and insane, but the thought would not leave him. Instead, Petit pushed it forward and began the realization of his dream.
Petit arrived in New York City not knowing anyone. It took him months to study the towers. He continuously disguised his identity in order to get into the buildings as a construction worker, a reporter, an assistant. A few weeks before the walk Petit stepped on the nail and seriously injured his feet. Nevertheless, he refused to stop and continued his dream.
"And the minute I got out of the subway, climbing the steps, looking at them, I knew that they were no dream. I knew that my dream was destroyed instantly… Impossible, impossible, impossible. It's clearly impossible, not only to walk across, this I probably hardly thought of it. But to bring almost like a ton of equipment secretly, to rig a wire for hours, to guideline it. It's clearly out of human scale, but something in me pulls me toward touching it."
Image credit: AP / The Telegraph
The first step was terrific. Petit always checks the knot-point and the anchor of the wire on both sides by himself. but this time he could not physically be present on both buildings. He gave instructions to a friend, but it was impossible to be sure of the rope's strength until the walk. There was also a much stronger turbulence than he expected - the wind forcibly blew shaking the wire.
"I was very concentrated and focused, in an open was, listening to everything, so that if there was a threat of some kind I would feel it." - he told on the interview with Gothamist magazine.
Philippe Petit completed his dream and even more, he proved to the world that anything is possible. When police detained Philippe Petit, he walked with a smile.
'Le coup' of the World Trade Centre was not the last of his practice, but the most memorable. In 2015, The Walk, a 3D movie, was released as a celebration of the grandiose performance with Joseph Gordon-Levitt as Petit. While watching, the meticulous preparations, tension, and marvelous joy of the moment are strongly conveyed through the detailed shots and picturesque scenes.
Philippe Petit, through his path to conquer the World Trade Center, demonstrated an intense focus and immense concentration. Also, his ability of careful observation is as important as the ones mentioned above. For him nothing is impossible.
The story of Petit and his dream is inspiring. He puts his life at risk and saves it by continuous training and concentration. There is no option left for anyone to excuse the lack of concentration or inability to train. Philippe Petit is a living example of courage and dedication.
