Summit Days

If you've ever been on an extended climb before, you may know that 'summit day' is the day when you finally set off to reach the top. Depending on the mountain, you may have already spent several days transversing its rhythm of ridges and valleys, taking in the sights while allowing your body time to adjust to the altitude. And then it arrives. D-day. The day, or night rather, when you finally face the most grueling stretch of terrain the mountain has to offer, and you just can't wait!

Summit day on Kilimanjaro, Tanzania

The sensation of waking up to a star-lit night and setting off on the last leg of your journey is simply exhilarating. In preparation, you would have spent the previous night making sure the right meal was eaten and the optimum sleep achieved, in hopes that your body will be in its peak condition for the task ahead. In fact, the months of training beforehand have all lead up to this ONE moment. Every cell of your body is buzzing with energy as you finally set off, feeling overwhelmingly and undeniably ALIVE.

For me, I want every day to be a 'summit day'.

I want to wake up to each day with the same sense of expectation, excitement and hope. Knowing that the choices and actions that I take today really do matter.

And I don't mean this in the sense that we should all just chase the 'highs' in life, because every summit is given meaning by the journey that proceeds it. The ridges, valleys, the training, the slips and falls, and every view along the way. And then of course there is the ultimate summit of this life. But what I do hope, is that I can learn to wake up each day with a 'summit day' mindset - expecting, excited, hopeful.

Welcome to Summit Days..