Because you ought to know — WUHUU!

Because its Sunday once again, time flies so fast. BER months are here, then its Christmas already!! MERRY CHRISTMAS AGAIN!!! But before we go there, allow me to SHARE a story of a mountaineer-at-heart.

I am a “PSEUDO-MOUNTAINEER” because I love APPRECIATING nature. Psuedo because I did not join any org group or associations to GET ON to my climbs. But there was a time, I climb 4-6 times a year that a good friend told me, “ you are a mountaineer if you climb mountains that often in a year”.

Today, I would like to share one of my stories about a memorable climb — 2nd peak of Mount Makiling. To give you a background, its 3,500++ feet above sea level (around 580pcs of people standing over each other, each of about 6" in height). Mountaineers would rate it level 4 if I am not mistaken, because of the level of difficulty/slope. It takes about 4 hours to climb up and same time to go down (unless you get a helicopter to pick you up to go down , hehe).

It was a sunny SATURDAY, we were at the foot at around 6am and were doing our usual stretching before the climb. We were 6 in the group plus the guide. We started walking on concrete road, then became just soil. Another 30 mins, the road went thinner and thinner until it can only let 3 people pass at 1 time. Then from 3, we were moved to form 1 line.

At first, we were noisy. Telling stories, catch-up mode on what was happening in our lives. Then as we trailed up, one by one people are refraining from speaking, in short RUNNING after their breaths. After 2 hours, everyone was quiet, busy catching their breath.

As we quieted down, trailing up in the middle of an UNKNOWN place, I came to converse with the MOST PERSISTENT persona, MYSELF. As the climb went more and more difficult, MONOLOGUES like, “why am i here, why am I making things difficult for me? Its so good to sleep at home. Should I go home? or go back?? But this is too far already, I have been walking for 2 hours. We should be near, I WILL GET THIS DONE. Besides, if I go back alone, I might get lost.” were happening inside my head.

So busy with my monologue, when somewhere on higher grounds, our guide stopped and said, “hey, check the view.” That is the only time I looked back, not aware that we have been walking FORWARD for straight 3 hours . When I TURNED, I was MESMERIZED by what I have seen — it was a BEAUTY. Greeneries all over, the landscape of the scene, the MAJESTIC overview of the towns from above. I tried taking pictures, but it did not do any justice.

Then we continued on GOING UP, the last 30-45 mins was the MOST DIFFICULT. The slope was more than 45 degrees. It made going up MRT ORTIGAS/SHANGRI-LA station stairs heaven in comparison. To the point that we needed ropes para kapitan to help us go up. It was too slippery, and hard to gain balance in order to stand straight. Occasionally our guide, will tell us to check the view. And every time I look back, the view is DIFFERENT, the beauty is IMPOSSIBLE, and the feeling is AWESOME. And I thank God that I feel so blessed to be there to SEE that in my LIFETIME.

Finally, after 4 LONG hours, we reached the top. And my reaction was, “TOINK!!! This is IT? Where is the view? None?!” Sorry Keng, there is no view, hehe. Either its cloudy or what other reason have you, but when I got there, we did not have ANY VIEW!

At first, it was DISBELIEF, then it was DISAPPOINTMENT. But then after a while, I checked myself again and asked why is it that I am STILL HAPPY? Not only me, including the other friends that climbed with me. Why are we happy? Why are we LAUGHING? And so I talked to them, shared our experience, difficulties and challenges. Then I realized, it was NOT the VIEW that was important, it was the EXPERIENCE, the friendship, the bonding, and the JOURNEY that mattered.

TAKE AWAYS:

1. Your DECISION today will move you in a magical place UNKNOWN to you. Don’t fret for there will be ANGELS disguised as people in FRONT of you acting as GUIDES, and there are people BEHIND you, acting as SUPPORTER. Acknowledge them in your HEART, and they will make you SUCCESSFUL.

2. While it is good to have an END GOAL as a DESTINATION, concentrating too much on it makes you BLIND of the TRIUMPHS happening RIGHT NOW. CELEBRATE small winnings, it give you fuel to reach FURTHER.

3. People that SURROUNDS you matters NOW. Build relationships, NURTURE it and most of all, HAVE FUN spending LIFE w them today, for you will not have the same SCENARIO when you reach your END POINT.

Sometimes, try to check also what happened for the last 3-5 years?
Checking the winnings of your yesteryears is a FUN thing to do! Try it and see how much you have grown. You will never APPRECIATE your progress if you DONT KNOW what was ACCOMPLISHED, either by INTENTION or by ACCIDENT. And remember how God has been gracious to you THE WHOLE TIME.

Have a VERY BLESSED Sunday to all.
Never cease to bring back ALL the glory to GOD.

#magnetAkoNgSwerte
#itsallboutperspective
#askmehowIdobusiness
#breakthroughhuggingnow