Happily Climbing On...

Painted on 11th June, 201

Don’t you think living life is just like climbing a mountain?

Before we climb the mountain, though we might try to consider the weather and be prepared for the worst case, it’s the mental strength only, which drags us to reach the top. Situation may go out of hand and at that case it’s the flexibility that we allow to ourselves and the patience that we have within us will help us cope with it.

Everyone wants to reach that summit of life, which for many of us is the most accomplished position in our family, career or society where we belong to. However, when we look upon the trajectory of even the most successful people, their ultimate desire is the happiness.

We all start our life with trekking; enjoying the walk, exploring the routes and observing different people and culture. This is the stage where we know we are just in the startup phase and our goal is that summit, thus we moonwalk throughout the stage and don’t really bother on what will happen the next.

Then comes the base camp life, when you get a little excited for your achievements by far, a little nervous for the actual climb that you need to start upon and more anxious about whatever you have to go through during your stay at the camp. It’s the time when you get utmost pressure from everyone that you are already there, now you should definitely thrive to reach the top. You need to kiss the ecstatic crest. But then, it’s only you who knows how chilled you are feeling there in the camp, how you don’t want to start the climb and it’s only you who knows that you just want the warmth of that sleeping bag, which is the only support you have there. You see there are other aspiring climbers planning, some daring to succumb alone and some have porters to help them. You, there at the corner of the tent peek out and wait the change of the weather being frightened of the avalanche. Then, there at the mean time your fellow climbers from the tent groan for the unforeseen delay. You realize it’s the test of your patience.

Time to get serious arrives. It’s the time for acclimatization climb. You start adjusting with the altitude and move forward experiencing the Icefall, rejoicing the ruthless weather changes. Then you search for the supportive; harness, ascenders, ropes. You are lucky if you find one on the right time. But there are high chances you might not be able to use that because of the fierce wind blow. Avalanche, would stop your journey forever in the worst scenario.

After thriving all these unforeseen circumstances, you face the moment of truth, believe in yourself and then creep along the summit. Climbing the mountain is more mental than physical. Everyone climbs the mountain but only few can conquer it. What I can bet is that even those who reached the top, too never felt conquered.

If the ultimate goal of reaching the summit is the happiness, then why to ignore the little pleasurable moments that comes in-between the trek. Why don’t I rest a little and talk with my fellow traveler and share the experience in my basecamp rather than being too concerned about the weather forecast? How much I plan, I must have an alternative plan for the unexpected storm. So, why shouldn’t I enjoy the beauty of the climb itself?

I am in the process of climb that has difficult direction, uncertain schedules and immeasurable risks. I am climbing on and I know I will still be climbing on even ten years down the lane. But what I am mindful is when I look back and see the routes that I have travelled, I would definitely feel accomplished that I have enjoyed every bits of my journey. The happiness that others would search at the top, would be there in every footsteps that I left behind.

Happily climbing on!