Friday 27 March 2020 / 21 Day Lock Down Reflection
I’ve been absent from social media for some time now. At least on a level of engagement. I’ve been more of an observer, silently watching your posts, your comments and perspectives. It’s been quite an education to say the least.
The break from online dialogue has been quite refreshing so I’ve had no pressing intention to engage or feel the need to make any specific posts … at least until now.
We find ourselves in a moment as a species that is unprecedented.
Lock Down.
A situation that is unfolding in an extraordinary fashion across the globe. Probably just like you I’ve gone through multiple emotions and mind games, from disbelief, conspiracy theories, frustration, anger, helplessness, fear.
Whatever the reasons behind this pandemic, this is where we are. What are we going to do about it? This a hard question given the totality of our lives has predominantly been constructed around economic systems.
It almost feels like a grand cosmic flip of the proverbial coin. No matter what the perspective the outcome is uncertain. The future is decidedly unclear. Will it be heads or will it be tails?
Besides the obvious, I believe in front of awaits a remarkable opportunity … at least for now. I time for reflection.
A reflection of our walk on this planet, the impact we have made along the way, our connection (or disconnection) to nature, our spiritual resonance, our connection to each other, our families and communities.
So during the current #21days lock down I will be reflecting on things I have learnt from my personal life journey thus far. Yes, I’m ultimately doing this for myself, but perhaps there is something in it that can be an inspiration or a thought provocation for somebody else out there.
Lockdown Reflection Day 1:
I have had the remarkable opportunity to summit Mt. Kilimanjaro four times together with some equally remarkable people. The most significant climb will undoubtedly always be the expedition of 2015. It was here that I died. It was on that blizzardy summit that I was reborn. Notes from my journal October 2015:
There is something to be said for trudging onward and upward through 8 hours of darkness on summit night into sub-zero temperatures. Every step is taken with some degree of agony; every breath is taken as if it were your last. Without a purpose the concept of defeat is easy. You can give up on this madness, you can turn back, there are guides that can take you back down to where it is safer and warmer in your tent. After a time you disappear into some sort of trance, where you get to face your angels and your demons, your childhood, your future, your regrets, your dreams, your past. In the end the only thing that remains is the present and your purpose.
The highest peak on Mt. Kilimanjaro which stands at 5895 meters is called ‘Uhuru’ which means ‘freedom’ or ‘liberation’ in Swahili.