Waterfall Trek-Discovering the Real Me and What I Truly am Capable Of!

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 6TH-

TREK TO THE WATERFALL

I DID IT...IT DID IT...IT DID IT...

HURRAY FOR ME!

Everything on this trip up until now was child’s play...a preparation leading up to what can only be described as a “peak experience” as described by Abraham Maslow. If we are lucky enough, we may have several peak experiences in a lifetime...but these will leave us changed forever...childbirth CAN be a peak experience and I can honestly say that 4 of my 6 childbirth experiences were. Being at the births of my grandchildren were for me also peak experiences. My first truly beautiful and loving sexual experience was also a peak experience.

All of these peeled back layers like an onion revealing inner beauty and strengths hidden by years of conditioning and preconceived notions and beliefs which we harbor from childhood and reinforce year after year with our minds, egos and physical bodies. At these times, we see ourselves as we TRULY are and can be and can then strive to continue to live on this new plane.
These experiences cause us to shift our perceptions and compel us to keep reminding ourselves what a truly amazing person we are and if we can only maintain this awareness to recognize these wonderful strengths, compassions, love and unity with the whole that envelopes us at these moments, we are changed for life.

These experiences release blockages which have been reinforced for years and we feel a sense of unlimited joy and peace. These feelings are not based on outward stimuli but on the total experience of BEING in the moment. We are simply and suddenly made aware of, or take notice of what has always been right in front of us but we don’t see as we have a tendency to focus outward.

We feel suddenly completely alive and awake and aware of our TRUE selves and the marvelous being we truly ARE. Not how we and others perceive us to BE.

Which leads up to the following:

I did my first REAL trek today and I cannot describe in words what it did for me but I now know what a baby feels like the very first time he gets up and toddles all across the room for the first time into his Mother’s waiting arms and the meaning of his squeal ofsheer delight which he lets out when he realizes what he hasjust accomplished!!

I not only did this trek, but did it at the pace of the young 30 year old who is a seasoned trekker!. We were told the trek takes about 3-4 hours to get up to these waterfalls. I was up there in less than 2 hours, including a tea break and a “camera” break.

I used my whole body to navigate the very narrow footpaths which at times were clear and just had to be carefully walked over (forest sloping up to the right and abyss to the left-the path just barely wide enough to standon with 2 feet together!), but mostly climbing up over boulders and tree trunks and slippery rocks still wet from the last rain.

Over landslides and descending back down over the same terrain only to climb my way back up again...I used every muscle in my body...veryoften afraid of loosing my balance and falling or spraining an ankle. I descended in a crouching position or actually sat on my behind and slithered down. (it is actually Sunday now and I can tell youthat I REALLY did use every muscle in my body...they are protesting quite loudly today!!)

...at one point in our final descent there was a 180 degree drop straight down and we had to use a tree truck to keep us from falling...we very often grasped fronds or grasses tokeep from sliding down very steep areas or to help pull us up over steep climbs...and part of the way was made more difficult by the altitude and breathing became difficult especially on climbing (we had to do this all AGAIN on the way down).

At times we found ourselves in very deep dark forests which kept reminding me of the story of Hansel and Gretle getting lost in the forest for some reason...There were a couple of times where I lagged behind and became quite frightened that I couldn’t make it but had no choice...had to catch up...I asked myself a couple of times “WHAT are you doing here and WHY are you doing this!!!”

But in the end we came to this paradise of aqua green pools at the base of a glorious waterfall where we sunbathed on boulders and ate lunch for a couple of hours...both of us dreading the thought of retracing our steps but neither one admitting it to the other...

we both faced our own fears...she is afraid of heights...and me my fear of not being able to do it because of my “weak” body, or of falling and breaking something or of simply being overwhelmed and frightened.

BUT I DID IT...and will never see myself in the same light again! I am amazing and truly can do anything! And when we got back much earlier than expected, everyone just assumed we had only made it to the ½ way point and then given up. You should have heard the reactions when they realized I not only did it, but in such a short time!!

There is no way I can thank Darya for giving me the courage to do this and for then giving me no option but to continue following her along the way. It never occurred to her that I couldn’t do it so she never once stopped, or waited, or suggested otherwise. It was obvious to her that I could be behind her and took for granted that I COULD...and... I CAN!!