8 Life Lessons

8 Life lessons learned on our 8 day Mt. Kilimanjaro trek:

1. The lesser baggage you carry, the more freely you can move.  Through a mountain & through life.

2. You cannot do it alone. Our group of 4 climbers had a team of 16 supporting us, encouraging us, and cheering us on. Our guides  held our hands through long, slippery stretches, comforted us every time we got tired, sang songs in swahili to lift our spirits, and helped us up every time we fell. And always with a smile. One of our porters who didn't know much English would cheerfully tell us everyday that he loved us like a baby. He really, really did. And I am not exaggerating when I say that they were the single biggest reason I made it to the summit.

3. A little rest can go a long way. Every time we thought we were exhausted and couldn't go on, it was amazing to see how even a one minute break and a sip of water would breathe new energy into our body.

4. Sometimes you have to look at the bigger picture. There were times along the trek when I was so focused on the next step that all I could see was the feet of the person directly in front of me, and I almost forgot to stop and admire the gorgeous views all around me. Stop and look at the bigger picture. Take in the views. And then continue.

5. It's not about where you go, but who you go with that makes the journey special. As cliched as it sounds, it's about the journey, not the destination.

6. It's good to have a plan, but keep an open mind. Embrace change. Hakuna Matata.

7. We saw people racing past us, and we also came across 70 year olds and someone with a prosthetic leg along the way. There will always be someone who has it easier than you, and someone who has it harder than you. Don't compare. Focus on your journey. Be thankful for what you have.

8. How do you climb a mountain? Pole, Pole (Swahili for slowly, slowly)...one step at a time...And everybody can take one more step.

P.S.  Not showering for a week was absolutely disgusting, but it was also extremely liberating to not look at a mirror, not wear make up, and just not care about how I look. It was also the first time in a long time that I completely unplugged from the rest of the world - no phone calls/texts/emails/facebook. It was incredibly peaceful. Extremely thankful to be back to civilization and being able to walk to a bathroom in the middle of the night without having to zip/unzip sleeping bags and tents and carry toilet paper/wet wipes in my pockets.