It is NOT in the way, it is THE way !

Every time when I get over a sporting activity, I get refreshed to push the limits both physically and mentally; it has helped to cement in a new self-reflection.

OK, this one was a ~10K trekking up and down in the outskirts of Bengaluru which was part of our team outing. We chose to hit the hills at early morning, there were a total of 50+ people from across various groups. We all got prepared to follow the guide, who was genuinely humble, grounded and gave some basic instructions. There were varied questions rooted out of anxiety, fun and from usual group chit-chats. Some were wondering which is the topmost peak, always looking up and checking how much more , worried of presence of wild animals, finding best angles for selfies, concerned on the needed essentials like water, and some barely prepared with flip flops and strolling along.

My eyes were on the guide, somehow impressed by his extreme calmness, hiking with ease, a man of few words. He gave the signs of an accomplished soul and true nature lover. Thanks to a recent motivational speech which I heard from an Everest summit achiever, I had my moment, was happy to relate and refer him as our local Sherpa ! It was like base camps, every time he stopped at a a peak for the group to catch up and gather around, no more analogy as that would be insane !

I chose to be ahead and hiked close to our "Sherpa", primarily to take advantage of having little more space to move, take faster steps and to match his rhythm. I loved that pace and kept my "selfie" thoughts out of reach while moving up.

I observed our Sherpa truly enjoying the halt, immersed in the scenic view at each of the stations. This despite him doing it for a living (later heard from him that he does 2/3 trips a day). So even at the same peak(s), every trip might be unique due to the change in season / view and mostly the state of the mind. (The picture above was taken at one of the peak, where you can see him at his calm and rested with nature). We made it to top in an hour or so, It was indeed quite an amazing view and truly closer to nature with rich wind blowing, echoing a heavenly rhythm.

Now, when I reached the top, I found it more than a physical achievement, an absolute bliss, the calmness and near perfect place made me to close eyes, reflect and meditate, that was like reaching the true top, a new experience !

Spent a good amount of 30-45 minutes being with self to get connected within. Our Sherpa didn't really entertain questions/conversations from the group and later just opened with some of us to say there could be bear and some wild animals in a candid manner only after reaching top. I slowly understood and developed respect to the man's closeness to nature and the mind of an accomplished.

The journey was not over, climbing down was a different path altogether, newer approaches to look at it - don't run down, take one step a time, go sideways when not comfortable with the slope, get help from each other --these were few guidelines.

It worked well and all of them got down comfortably, each of us had enriched experiences -- on physical toughness, connect of nature, urbanization impacts,richness in the air and herbs and some closing down with a heavy breakfast to move on with our next plan of actions.

In our lives, we set targets, work towards achieving it, we find ourselves at different pace, sometimes enjoying and resting at intermediate milestones - however the biggest take away for me was--

If you don't enjoy the journey, you will mostly not end up there, nor be able to stay put there.

Being at the top or achieving a goal, puts us on the mill to stay on and also warns to get prepared to slow down for greater heights later, even getting back to "ground" gives us more wisdom to get back at it again !

It is NOT in the way, it is THE way, isn't it ?