Base Camp

“I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived. I did not wish to live what was not life, living is so dear; nor did I wish to practise resignation, unless it was quite necessary.” Henry David Thoreau

There’s a hill near our place that has been provoking me, beckoning to me for months. Having been restricted to short walks with a ‘vanilla’ gradient and camber, each time I’ve passed it, the visceral reality of the challenge and temptation is acute. Once part of my pre injury walking routine, a low simmering  anticipation, yearning, and intrinsic fear embraces my motives and desire for reunification with its 12.5% gradient and the path lying beyond onto the bush track or  ‘woods’.

The evolution of physical progress, is dictated by one’s acceptance of the challenge on the periphery of one’s comfort zone, and a willingness to ‘live deliberately’ despite it all.  Excuses abound and are commonplace. Security is found in the “I can’t”, rather than the freedom of “I can”. ‘Everything is hard before it is easy’, is willingly overlooked for the safety of the familiar. Resignation settles deeply. Life remains a tiebreaker.

An enquiry of the new, or dissatisfaction with the present, forms impetus for change or acceptance of challenge. The pain-pleasure principle refers to one’s appetite to seek gratification, achievement or success, or to avoid pain. It confirms or rejects motivation. It looks for a gradient, or searches out the flat. It lives deliberately or shuns intentionally.

“It takes an enormous amount of internal security to begin with the spirit of adventure, the spirit of discovery, the spirit of creativity. Without doubt, you have to leave the comfort zone of base camp and confront an entirely new and unknown wilderness.” Stephen Covey

The ‘wilderness’ in my sights is not unknown, the pathway though often trodden has changed. Purpose must override pain. Anticipation must accentuate opportunity. Gradient must become a God send.

“ I’m pressing on the upward way,
New heights I’m gaining every day;
Still praying as I onward bound,
“Lord, plant my feet on higher ground.”

“My heart has no desire to stay
Where doubts arise and fears dismay;
Though some may dwell where these abound,
My prayer, my aim, is higher ground.”

I want to scale the utmost height
And catch a gleam of glory bright;
But still I’ll pray till rest I’ve found,
“Lord, lead me on to higher ground.”  Johnson Oatman

I’m readying to leave base camp…..

Whistle While You Work

I’ve taken to whistling.

“Just whistle while you work
And cheerfully together we can tidy up the place
So hum a merry tune
It won’t take long when there’s a song to help you set the pace

And as you sweep the room
Imagine that the broom is someone that you love
And soon you’ll find you’re dancing to the tune
When hearts are high the time will fly
So whistle while you work.”  (Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs)

“Cheerfully tidying up the place”, “Hum a merry tune”, “Hearts are high”. Mock and jest if you wish, but I’m singing and I’m whistling. I’m loving the broom, the washing machine, the clothes line, the dishes; time is flying and my heart is high. Liberation through domestication. Domestic bliss! Who, ever would have thought? The mundane transformed to victory, to progress, to satisfaction! Pass me some stain remover!

It is indeed true that absence makes the heart grow fonder. A phrase I never would have formally attributed to domestic chores. For three and a half months I have watched my family complete the household tasks with “domestic envy”. (Well if I’m honest I may only have become envious after one month of not being able to do them!) Yet in the winning back of mobility, I embrace the victory of the mundane. Thankfulness builds in the sock basket, the dishwasher, the washing machine. It builds in correlation with movement and flexibility. Energy directs to outcomes and productivity once more. Steps are taken. Steps earned with pain. Steps solidified with tears. Steps with a story. Steps embodying achievement. Past steps shaping the new destination. One foot and then the other. Slowly, safely, excitedly. Overwhelming satisfaction.

Visualise: an out of control laundry, a messy kitchen, a child’s bedroom upturned. Reframe to: Opportunity for victory, joy in the mundane, satisfaction in the obscure.

Love your broom, your clothesline, your dish mop. Embrace your “inner house-keeper”. Thank you Snow White. “When you arise in the morning, think of what a precious privilege it is to be alive – to breathe, to think, to enjoy, to love”.  Marcus Aurelius  (Thanks Olwen!)