We were stronger than we knew

Our incredible trip to Tanzania, Africa was to climb Kilimanjaro and raise funds and awareness for World Vision and children that are forced into dirty and degrading jobs. Children that are deprived of any sort of childhood. AndI think our incredible team achieved our goal of raising funds and awareness, but little did we know we would be rewarded with so much more than that. There is something magical about Africa that I just can’t explain. I fell in love with the people, the landscape and that mountain, Kilimanjaro! (Although that was a bit of a love/hate thing at times!) The trip was life-changing, I left a small piece of my heart there in that country andI hope someday to go back. How do I describe climbing Kili ? “Out of this world” is the only phrase that might come close, and it’s how you feel as you work your way toward the top of that mountain at 19,583 feet and it’s definitely how you feel the moment you summit. We started as a team at the base of Kilimanjaro 7 days prior, with really no idea as to how we would mentally and physically handle the climb and it was thatentireteam that summited at sunrise 7 days later, a little worse for wear, but incredibly satisfied that we had completed our journey – with no man left behind! The African plains extended some 300 kilometers in front of us and were visible just beyond the cloud line, which at times made me feel like I was viewing everything below me from an airplane window. The entire experience was quite surreal. Permanent glaciers millions of years old, airplanes flying below us, and the sun rising over Kenya to our east. This was a placeIcould have never even imagined. While the origin of its name is uncertain, the local Njaro people will tell you it was named in jest, translating as “the little hill of the Njaro.” Better be in jest…that was no “little” hill! The first day’s trekking wound through tall trees and forest land. Our pace was set for us by the guides – something I did not quite understand in the early days of that climb (I like to move and move fast!) but I was so thankful for in the latter stages of our climb. The 25-degree celcius heat slowly faded away as we climbed higher and higher. And in the evenings when the sun set, it was bone chillingly cold. The phraseIheard more than any other was“Pole Pole,”.“Slowly Slowly,”it means in Swahili. “This isn’t a sprint, it’s a marathon,”.Ipondered that statementa lotduring the 5-6 hours each day of moving up that mountain…andIunderstood how muchIneed to apply that more in my everyday life. Look around, enjoy the journey, get to know your team, be present, absorb the silence, look at the night sky, gaze at the stars, be still...….the list goes on. And how true that statement felt the morning we summited. The other thought that came to mind many times was how muchI valued my physical ability. ThatI had my health, thatI could slowly, over and over again, put one foot in front of the other and with relatively few physical issues, climb that mountain. We at times take our health, our bodies for granted. Wedon’t very often put ourselves in situations where we really have to rely on our physical self. AndI spent many hours thanking my knees, feet, joints & back for not giving out on me. I turned 49, four days after we summited andI will tell you for all my birthdays to come,I wish only for my health and the ability to continue to experience all the adventures life has to offer. SoI will continue doing whatI have been doing, weight training, cardio, golfing, walking.I will get massages whenI can,I will meditate more, Iwill take SierraSil andI will continue to be grateful for all the things my physical self has allowed me to experience. I recommend everyone at some point in their life should attempt to climb Mount Kilimanjaro as it is a true test of mental and physically strength. It will make you appreciate your mind, your body and the opportunity you are given to experience something amazing. The best quoteIhave ever heard is that“We are all better than we know if only we can be brought to realize this. We may never again be prepared to settle for anything less." Cheryl Bernard