Climbing a mountain
"You cannot climb a mountain if you will not risk a fall."-Rick Beneteau
I am a hiker. A little over a year ago those words were only a dream or theory. Today I can openly title myself as such because I cannot function unless I am engulfed in the woods trekking up some mountain. By no means am I a thru-hiker like those who trek through the Appalachian Trail, YET! But hiking is my yoga, my sanctuary, my prayers and my union with Spirit. It’s that simple to explain. I used to be a runner as a teenager but I was always running from something. As a hiker I am walking towards the Divine. After the weeks of stressful holiday season I have once again find consolation on top of the world.I am often told by others to please be careful not to fall. I’ve fallen many a times to then catch myself laughing and shaking it up to continue the hike. Okay, maybe I’ve gotten hurt a few times, but there are lessons in the experiences. You cannot climb without accepting that you will fall. Any hiker will tell you that this comes with the territory. You surrender to the risk. Depending on the weather and the terrain I have to be in the moment and focus on each step. The minute I lose focus of the path and my mind wanders off, I can fall. It only takes one bad step to find yourself on the side of a mountain sliding down the forest.The picture below was taken today from a midday hike up Bearwallow Mountain. The weather finally cleared up after a few weeks of gloominess. I was beginning to get cabin fever from being indoors for so many days. There is nothing better than climbing that path and finding the openness in nature and in oneself. I sat on “my” boulder and inhaled that cold winter air while allowing the Sacred to enter me. This is life in these mountains. And even with a muddy path I can still say that I cannot worry about the risk of getting hurt. That’s part of life. We are all climbing our own mountains on a daily basis.You have to journey this life risking it all and embracing it. I choose to risk it all!