I have a confession: I've struggled recently with the belief that life isn't fair. After several months of recurring bouts of the flu, I discovered that I'd contracted Lyme Disease. To be brought so low by a bug roughly the size of a sesame seed seemed impossible. To feel unknowingly "invaded" while in my own backyard was unthinkable. And to have my summer stolen from me was unacceptable.
My world was quickly reduced to various resting spots: the bed, the sofa, perhaps a chair in the sand at the nearby beach. But while I put my own travel on hold, I managed to escape by reading about the journeys of others. And I found unexpected solace in this travel piece by Eman Zabi. Her blog begins "If you've ever climbed Kilimanjaro...." and when I read those words, I was thinking only of my own long trek toward wellness.
But whether we are humbled by a bug or by a mountain, these travel lessons apply equally to all of life's challenges.
Thanks, Eman, for sharing this unobstructed view that puts it all back in perspective.
- "Pole, Pole." If you've ever climbed Kilimanjaro, the words "Pole, Pole," Swahili for slowly, slowly, will be forever be engrained in your memory. On the mountain, the words make sure you take your time as you climb, conserving energy and aiding acclimatization. Off the mountain, they keep you grounded and mindful as you focus on each step and not the end goal.
Reprinted with permission from Get Lost travel blog.
Tammy Letherer is a writing coach who loves to help others find their voice, whether in a blog or in a book. She is the author of one novel, Hello Loved Ones, and a memoir, Real Time Wreck: A Crash Course in Betrayal and Divorce, for which she is seeking agent representation.