Hey there…it has been a while since we last talked and wow do I have a lot to say today. We got back too Hanfil Center a few hours ago after completing our two-week trek in the Himalayan Mountain Range. To be completely transparent, I am not entirely sure where to begin so this may be spiritic but oh well; this journey was filled with such emotion, passion, perseverance, and pristine. For starters, the Himalayans are unlike anything I have ever seen. Especially after we got past 12,000 feet of elevation, the views were breathtaking. I felt something I have not felt in a long time here — the feeling of genuine joy. No phones, no distractions, no complications; just myself, my team, and the simplicities of life. I found this to be my favorite part. While others may have longed to talk to loved ones, watch movies, go on social media, or even take a shower (not saying I did not need/want one), I longed to be in this place as long as possible. I already miss it.
Despite these feelings, the first two days were hard. It was scorching hot, I had over 60 pounds on my back, and we did not begin setting camp up until late afternoon. The real killer of all though was the elevation increase. Not just the steep, rocky, and narrow trails but the breathing troubles with altitude. However, after this, the days got easy — I defiantly could have been more physically challenged these days. In fact, after the shakedown, I was expecting to only be physically challenged but oh was I wrong.
Throughout this entire trek, I felt like I was on a rollercoaster of emotions. The amazing views, endorphins released during the hiking/exercise portion, the satisfaction of setting up camp fast and making a good meal, getting to know my team better — all such beautiful feelings. Yet this was not all I felt or all that occurred. The mental exhaustion and time to work out personal issues was a deep part of this journey I was not anticipating. There were a lot of times my judgment was clouded by my feelings of frustration, confusion, or deeper routed tendencies that came up in the heat of the moment. You may be wondering why I am expressing this in a blog that is supposed to summarize my experience in such a beautiful place. Personally, for me, this is part of what made this experience so beautiful. The place, the people, and my peace allowed me to grow and adapt as an individual. We did multiple solos, group and individual positive and negative feedback sessions, and made mistakes. These are all things that are out of my comfort zone for me and for the most part new. But isn’t that the point? There is simply no growth without discomfort, and this was the ultimate test. I came into it thinking it would be challenging physically but why? I was over 8000 miles from home, had zero contact with the real world, and could only rely on myself and my team for 11 days in the middle of nowhere. That was the real challenge and boy did it pay off.
Although I could have stayed here for a lot longer, I also feel ready to come home. I am anxious to reintegrate back into society, but I have confidence that I will be able to apply the lessons learned, be more aware of my actions, and continue the growth I have begun. Hope the philosophical blog wasn’t to deep lol but until next time.
Kat