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…..