Thank you!
First of all, I would like to thank you for all your donations and supporting the fundraising that was organised on behalf of the Women and Girls Network. This charity is doing an amazing job by helping women and girls across London who have been affected by all forms of violence and abuse.
Your generosity gave girls and women the resources and support they need to move away from abuse and violence. It gave them a chance to start their healing process and it open a road to a better future.
You truly made a difference!
I did my best to summit the highest volcano in the world, however this time I returned home without standing on the top of the mountain.
‘The summit is for the ego and the journey is for the soul’ (origin unknown)
Mountains are an infinite and generous source of experiences. They impart essential life lessons, inspire us, expose us to discomfort and pain, introduce us to new experiences, compel us to step out of our comfort zones, confront our fears, test our physical and mental strengths, and challenge our physical and emotional capabilities until we discover our own limits, as well as our strengths. Mountains teach us patience, temper our ego, and humble us. Through the journey into the unknown, we actually learn more about ourselves, grow, and become more resilient and open-minded.
Needless to say, reaching the summit is amazing and fulfilling. However, walking toward our goal, step by step, from hill to hill, constitutes the largest part of the adventure and deserves to be appreciated. And if you happen to fail, remember that it’s better to try and fail than never to try at all. You will always find reasons to be proud of yourself and your experiences. No moment is wasted. I’m grateful for every moment of my journey, both the enjoyable and the painful. I’ve undoubtedly learned a lot. So, please don’t feel sorry for me. Instead, be happy, as with every mountain, there’s far more to discover than just the summit.
Failure or Triumph?
Certainly, an unsuccessful summit attempt is one of the most disheartening experiences for a mountaineer. Months of training, sacrifices, time, and money invested, traveling across the globe… and yet not reaching the summit. Yes, you may feel disappointment, perhaps even heartbroken. Yes, the sense of failure may creep up on you, and you may begin to second-guess and blame yourself for perceived weakness. But it’s important not to dwell on these feelings for too long because there is so much more to your experience; there is so much you can gain from it. Yes, you can transform what’s labeled as ‘failure’ into triumph. You can extract the best from any challenging situation, and it all depends on your approach. I have chosen to view my ‘unfinished summit’ as my success!
Some time ago, I wouldn’t have thought so. I would have felt disappointed, defeated, frustrated, angry, and upset with myself. It would have undoubtedly had a negative impact on my self-worth, self-esteem, and my ego would have been hurt. I would have forgotten about all the positive aspects of my journey, which actually began long before I set foot on the mountain. I had attached a whole list of experiences to my ‘unfinished summits,’ making it much easier to view them as triumphs rather than failures.
A journey of a thousand little goals
For me, setting a goal and working toward it is what keeps me healthy, motivated to go to the gym regularly, stay active, and maintain a healthy diet. In the process, it helps me stay away from destructive habits. So my journey towards the summit began long before my actual trip—it’s about all the small daily steps I took and continue to take to bring me closer to my goals.
Continuous Learning
The journey through different countries, exposure to diverse cultures, meeting so many different people, and trying new foods enriches my life with experiences. It enables me to learn new things and become more open-minded. It’s all about constant personal development and striving for improvement. As we all know, sometimes things don’t go as planned, and many factors contribute to it, as in life.
The successful accomplishment of any expedition is a complex blend of various factors, including a climber’s skills and experiences, pre-climb preparation, physical and mental strength, endurance, resilience, proper rest days, acclimatization, and nutrition. However, there are also factors beyond our control, such as weather, interpersonal dynamics, logistics, accidents, and more.
Believe it or not, missing a summit here and there can make you a better mountaineer and a happier, more resilient person in the long run. The truth is that all mountaineers have long lists of unfinished peaks—and from these so-called failures, we often learn valuable life lessons.
I don’t believe there is a person out there who has never failed. Yet, we often speak only of our achievements and the things we are proud of, forgetting about the experiences that provided us with the most significant life lessons—failures, struggles, and problems. Paradoxical, isn’t it? Therefore, it’s important to openly discuss our failures as well as our victories.
Be Kind to Yourself
My unfinished summits have actually increased my self-worth and self-esteem. They’ve taught me what truly matters in life and have granted me a sense of peace. Even if I didn’t reach the top, I’ve learned that I am still who I am, and I don’t need to prove anything to myself or others. It’s a fundamental part of the journey, an integral part of the experience, and a reminder of the risks we take. Not everything will always go as planned—much like in life—because we can’t control everything.
It has always been challenging for me to find self-compassion and self-love; I had an abundance of it for others but struggled to extend it to myself. Nevertheless, I’m on a journey of learning. Over the years, I’ve invested significant effort in managing my emotions and changing my self-destructive habits. This journey was put to the test during my recent trip.
While I will continue to challenge myself, erasing my goal-oriented personality is a formidable task. However, my top priority is finding balance in all aspects of my life. I am committed to continued growth and learning from my experiences, with the hope of creating a meaningful life.
We are all like unfinished books, with blank pages waiting to be written. So, let’s write the best life stories possible until ‘The End.’
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