‘Mountains change lives’ I had heard more times than I can count. But, I did not know what it meant, until it changed mine. At a point in my life at my lowest, spiralling into a black hole, it’s the Mountains that pulled me back and held through. For someone who is a nerd and never saw failure, it hit me like an avalanche when I failed my CA Final exam, after giving it everything I had. It took less than a minute to sink into a shell and doubt my capabilities.
With no time to lament over, I got back with a plan and kept up with my schedule. During lunch one day, I saw a documentary of people climbing Mt. Everest. It stirred something, strangely made me feel at ease. Climbing an 8000 metres mountain, people accepted everything that came their way, there wasn’t another option. The summit push is the hardest, and the feeling at the top is unmatched, I thought to myself seeing the climbers. In the course of my preparation, each time I felt out of hope and belief, I would watch the mountains in all glory, and my heart would feel light. Now, travelling to the Mountains gives me a kind of happiness that none can.
Over the course of my treks, here is what I learnt from the Mighty Mountains and is true to our daily life.
1. Acceptance
One can be prepared for the worst, but the reality that hits could be even worse. While climbing a mountain, though we can predict conditions, sometimes it takes unexpected turns forcing us to pause and calculate before you move ahead. Sitting in my tent and complaining how rain played spoilsport is not going to help, because I can complain all I want but it’s not going to change anything. Acceptance makes dealing easier, telling me when to stop and when to go ahead. Much like life.
2. Patience, Patience, Patience
If there is one thing that the Mountains test more than endurance, it is Patience. You can plan it meticulously to the point, but one heavy snowfall can throw your plan in the drain. We don’t summit the Mountain on Day 1. While climbing there could be days when one has to wait until they can trek further, defying that can only cause harm. In a world that constantly pushes instant results, Mountains taught me to slow down with grace, to be patient and trust the process. Sometimes, ‘Greatness takes Time’.
3. Humility
I often don’t relate when people say they ‘conquered’ a mountain, because we are not bigger than the Mountain, the nature. Mt. Everest is called the Sagar Maata, and people usually do a pooja for the mountain to go easy on them, and for them to have a safe expedition. So you really conquers? Sure, you conquer your fears, but not the Mountain. Mountains have humbled me in ways I can’t even imagine. Whether it’s a sudden storm or an avalanche threat or falling into a crevasse, you realize you’re not in control – nature is.
4. Resilience and Perseverance
The mountains have shown me that I’m capable of so much more than I think. This realization has helped me push through difficult times in my life. The barriers that I often put to limit myself were only imaginary and came out of a negative space. Climbing it as much about mental endurance as it is about physical strength. Mountains taught me how important it is to take one step at a time, even when I felt like giving up.
5. Gratitude
When in the mountains, the simplest of things feel like luxury. The warmth of a blanket, a fulfilling meal after a day of trekking, fresh air, good company and the feeling of just being alive, feels unparalleled. It has made me appreciate the small things in life that we often tend to take for granted, and be grateful for all that I have while working towards my goals.
Mountains will always be special to me, a place where I run to in happiness and sorrow, for it has a place for every feeling. How have the Mountains made you feel?
Read More: Mountain Words and Terminologies
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