I don’t wanna go up 3 — Synergies and Learnings.
This is the third in the series of blogs on the Everest Base Camp trek which was taken up in April 2022. The first two are here — https://lthampi.medium.com/i-dont-wanna-go-up-b81cf53ea2c1
In a journey we map our own path, that's the ideal condition, but we all get influenced by co-passengers, Don't we? I all the more have this ability to imbibe everything which is happening around, the people and their energies. So it's the energy talk in this third write-up. I hope to make it entertaining although there would be a lot of gos on people here.
So what did I intend to do, have a solo time most of the time, and don't get perturbed by the people and their goals? Some of us were there to just to tick mark the goal, come what may, Some came there without knowing much about what it is about, no previous experience of a trek, so constant amazement was their state, Some were there to prove a point, some were there as their mentors said you need to do it, Some of them was there because he just operates on a captains commands. No judgments here, but there are… can't say I am clean. All different kinds of thoughts ran through me when I walked with some of them. By the third day I realized, I don't deserve to be in anyone's company before I sort out my own company first. Zooming in happened, but before that, I had some rendevous with most of the co trekkers.
You are on the one-foot path, say you are 2 of you in close proximity, and what could be the unsaid rule of this journey. I don't hog the path, I let the person walking beside or behind me go ahead if he/she wishes to. No, i wont let anyone cross me, I am the first and I remain so even if that means, you are testing the patience of the person behind. I would stand akimbo, when tired and sip my water and catch my breath too. You can imagine what went thru the person at the back, frustrations, and impatience to the max. Spirits as usual jittered. So what the way to counter this, either you feign tiredness and slow down and keep a good distance, so that you can restore your spirits. Or wait for a path which can accommodate 2 of us, and overtake without giving a horn or a bell. Spirit here is a bit smeared with smirkiness. But so be it. Can't handle the frustration.
There are others who are amicable co-passengers, as usual, although I started with the most frustrated one at that. They like to strike a banter, find more about you, like to talk about them, all these if we aren't on a steep trek and both of us can take a breath to utter some words. But should say encountered some amazing individuals on this journey, one of them being the well-accomplished athlete Babita, who didn't give two hoots what was happening around her, but was determined to complete the journey she started. She was troubled by her food allergies, injuries, and fatigue, but her mantra i complete what I start. Was a pleasure to hear her stories of training some exceptional individuals after she took up this profession being a corporate professional till her late 30s. Grit personified is what i could see.
Another person who was a calm encourager all through was Pankaj, who would nod at you when you have done a steep climb, joke with you on how to suck energy like Sherpas or tell you to rest beside him after the longest trek which would have sapped you. Never intimidating although he was exceptional all through the journey and persistent.
Another exceptional learning of being slow and steady, who would win the race came from Neeti and Ritu. If you observe them, they were always stoic and small step soldiers with synchronized breaths. That was the winning strategy for them too. That's the way of life, you cannot just imbibe it in one of the treks, but that is the strategy that needs to be applied in all future ones for sure.
For sure there were some folks always on picnic mode, who were always talking and climbing and supporting each other. Admire them for that rhythm and it worked for them too.
Many more in the groups, but by the time I spent time with the above folks, my social battery was exhausted, and I zoomed in to survive the trek and started conversations with myself which were also enjoyable, with the whispers of wind and trickling of water and sounds of my food steps on the gravel and rocks in the background.
To be continued and concluded too :) in the next one.
