Traveling, I believe, is key to self-discovery. My curiosity keeps me on the go, always wanting to meet new people, discover new places and find exciting adventures. About a year ago, my thirst for a new escapade landed me at the foothills of the Himalayas. Unaware of the challenges I was going to face, I signed up for a trek with a few friends. Without any training, I set out on this journey looking forward to what this experience was going to bring me.
About ten minutes into my trek, my self-doubt took over! The overwhelming cold, the steep gradient and the 3900 meters that lay ahead of me was all I could think about. At that point I was willing to turn back and spend 3 days in a small village, while my friends were about to embark on an adventure of a lifetime.
They managed to sway me with their words and helped me break down the enormous mountain in my head into small parts that we were going to cover over the next three days. The following days were rough and I looked back down several times, but my mind kept me walking.
When I reached the summit, I looked around and was consumed by the beauty that surrounded me. In that moment, I understood every challenge that we had faced. Never had I felt this elated by a sense of achievement. After all the self-doubt and the questioning, I had made it. Staring at the world before me, I knew that this moment would be frozen before my eyes forever.
I left that village and the mountain in the rear view and headed back to my city life. Upon reflection, I learnt something that will stay with me forever. Your mind is the most powerful force and once you put it to something, you will achieve it. I’ve learnt never to question its power. I wrote the verse below reminiscing about my time spent at Kedarkantha.
Tired of running a rat’s race,
Trapped in its embrace,
So, I run trying to find parts,
Parts that have been stripped from my heart.
Standing on the edge of the world,
Amidst nature comfortably curled,
Replaying every step gradually placed,
Looking at the snowclad path I retraced.
My eyes were fixated,
My body jaded,
But you looked so sublime,
My mind made the climb.
This view,
Is worth every hardship you bestrew,
There is a growing feeling in my heart,
With these memories, I’ll never part.
My nomadic soul found some rest,
Cradled in your breast,
A piece of myself I found,
A piece will forever remain buried in your ground.
Author: Simran Kinger
Email: [email protected]
Author Bio: I am 24 years old, an aspiring Interior Designer, living in Mumbai, India. Travel, fashion, art, poetry, reading and dancing are some of the things I’m extremely passionate about. I’m a romantic and a dreamer and I’m often found preaching about the goodness in the world. Good music and a strong cup of coffee, makes me happy everyday!
Link to social media or website: https://www.instagram.com/simrankinger92/?hl=en
