Fears, Expectations, Destiny...
During what I call “the long winter” of 2020/21 - lockdown, Covid, abysmal weather in the Netherlands where I live, and wondering what the next stages in life held after leaving conflict zones such as Iraq and Afghanistan - I read some of the writings of author John O’Donohue.
I’ll share two of his quotations here which spoke to me - and continue to do so!
“May you have the courage to listen to the voice of desire that disturbs you when you have settled for something safe.”
and…
“We should never allow our fears or the expectations of others to set the frontiers of our destiny”
These photos show challenges in high mountain terrain that my clients (when I was guiding professionally) overcame on their journey to the summit. But then of course the views. The reward. The time of reflection.
Rather than look at a specific photo and discuss it in this article, I wanted to use John’s quotes that I’ve shared, and so ended up looking through some of my past mountain guiding photos that could fit neatly into the theme.
Mountaineering lends itself to words such as those in the header. Trying to attain any summit - "even" a Munro in Scotland - will pit you against weather, physical challenges, fitness - or lack thereof, remoteness, reliance on others, the list continues. Words and terms such as challenges, obstacles, fears to overcome, goals, striving, reaching out - all of these apply in mountaineering.
However when it comes to defining words such as "success" and "failure" - what do these mean in the context of mountaineering? Reaching the summit may seem the obvious "success" definition - but what about coming back down alive regardless of whether the summit was reached? Surely that could be a success, as dying on the mountain, would, in most people's eyes, be seen as a tragic failure…
What if we turn back for whatever reason and go back the way we came. Is that a “failure”? I would say certainly not if we learn from that journey. The skills and lessons we picked up will surely strengthen us for our next trip. Our next target. Remember that falling - if that is what you feel you have done - is just learning to stand!
How can we transfer these learnings and experiences to those that live in urban environments and have never set foot on a mountain? By sharing images that can visually speak. By sharing through writings, podcasts and word of mouth, some of the lessons we learnt and took away from time in the mountains. And by being transparent about how life in all its colourful complexities and challenges, continues to teach us now - even if we are away from the mountains.
Rather than dwell on the past which we can do nothing about, let's look to the future and what's ahead. Don't let anyone's fears or expecations shape your destiny. Look to the "summit".
Attributed to C.S. Lewis: "You can’t go back and change the beginning, but you can start where you are and change the ending..."
Thank you so much for taking the time to read this piece. Please feel free to feedback with any comments in the section below or send them to me directly through the Contact page.
