Life lessons learnt from climbing a mountain

Two weekends ago I had the pleasure of climbing a mountain in Norway with my high school friend Jaemie and her 7 year old daughter Jahzara. It was a spectacular experience - the pictures here really don't do the actual scenery justice - and afterwards as I reflected on the memories I realized some of my observations are applicable to navigating through this journey of life.

The climb!

* Don't let the weather stop you from beginning

The weather forecast for Saturday was rainy all day, but the sun came out in the morning, so we made plans to go on our mountain hike. However, just as we were getting ready to leave the house, the weather changed and it began to rain lightly. We decided to go ahead with our plan, even if it meant us getting wet along the way.

Sometimes in life we wait for the ideal set of circumstances before we make a move. The reality is that life is full of unexpected surprises, and situations around us are always changing. If we allow external factors to influence our decision to move forward, we would never go anywhere.

Blue skies on the way

* Choose your mountain wisely

I know that I am not as fit as I used to be in my younger days ;) There are many mountains in Norway that we could have climbed, some that would have taken us 4 hours each way. I asked Jaemie to choose one that would not cause her to have to carry me on her back because I passed out from fatigue.

Even though it is good to challenge yourself with experiences outside of your comfort zone, you should be realistic about what you can handle. If not, you could end up having to abort the mission halfway through, or being an unnecessary burden to those around you.

At the start of the trail

* Pace yourself and make time for recharging

At the beginning of the trail we had lots of energy but as we began the climb it became more and more challenging to keep going. Jaemie had to keep reminding Jahzara to slow down as she just wanted to get to the top as quickly as possible. We stopped for a snack along the way up, and make sure to drink water all along the way.

Many times in the excitement of moving forward, especially when we are fresh and full of energy, we end up pushing ourselves without taking the time to recharge. If we continue at a rapid rate, sooner or later will end up burnt out. We should take time to take care of ourselves along the journey, to ensure that we make it to the end.

Jahzara showing off the quality of their mountain spring water

* Take time to enjoy the views along the way

When we were going up the mountain, we were facing forward most of the time. The first time we stopped and turned around, I was almost blown away by the beauty of the view behind me. There were also some spectacular displays of nature that we passed along the way that we could have missed if we were only focused on getting to the top.

There is a danger in being so focused on your goal that you miss opportunities to appreciate the beauty along the way: relationships that could have been enriched, experiences that could have been enjoyed, life lessons that could have been learnt.

Breathtaking view

* It helps to have people with you

The trail leading up to the top of this mountain was pretty straightforward and clearly marked out, but I am so glad I did not have to climb it alone. Having Jaemie there to look out for me and Jahzara there to entertain me was a great motivation for me to keep going when my muscles were crying out in pain.

It is always easier to endure the trials and overcome obstacles we face in this journey of life when we have people who are walking alongside us. It is a tremendous encouragement when we know that we are not alone. Having people who are supporting us and cheering us on is great motivation for us to continue persevering.

Steep parts along the trail

* Celebrate your victories

When we got to the top, we celebrated our accomplishment with hot chocolate and chocolate bars. This was actually motivation for some of us who felt like we couldn't go another step further. We also signed our names in a book for all those who had made it to the top.

We should never think it too extravagant to celebrate milestones in our journey. If we have accomplished goals we have set, this is a reason to recognize that achievement. There is a sense of satisfaction and fulfilment that comes when you persevere to the end, and this should be commended.

Enjoying a "Quick Lunch" before heading back down

As soon as we got to the top, the rain started falling lightly, and by the time we were ready to go back down, it started hailing so we quickly made our way back down the trail. Thankfully it eased up so we were not completely soaked, but even it if didn't it would still have been worth the climb!

That view!!!

* Listen to the advice of those who know better

On the way back down, Jahzara was jumping and leaping over the rocks along the trail. It took multiple warnings from her mother, outlining the possible injuries she could acquire to get her to slow down.

Many times, especially when we are moving at a quick pace, we may be likely to feel like we know better than those who have gone before us, and can see dangers that we are oblivious to. We should be open to the advice of those see dangers that we are oblivious to due to how easily and quickly we are progressing.

We all made it safely back down in one piece

As with any journey, there were difficult points along the way, but at the end, the wonderful moments made it all worth it. It may not be smooth sailing all the way -  there will be painful moments, times when you feel like giving up, but there are good times as well, and the lessons learnt along the way form part of the reward.

Enjoying the spectacular displays of nature along the trail