Climbing Everest

Someone once said that half the battle is won or lost in our mind.

Since about three months ago, I have been very keen bordering fanatical, on scaling the 1000 Steps at the Kokoda Memorial Park regularly. As I have previously written, this trail comprises of about 900 uneven steps up a hill set in very green and natural surroundings. I try to go at least once every weekend, so much so that when my manager asked me what I was doing for the weekend he would always also ask me if I would be going to the 1000 steps too.

Lately though I have lost the discipline to do that so after a hiatus of about a month, I resolved (after seeing a roll of fat hanging out of a pair of jeans I recently bought) to start the regime again. No better time to do it but now, on a Friday evening after work.

There was an avalanche of excuses in my head as I left the office. 'It's not sunny enough, it might be dangerous to go up as there might not be many people at a time like this, you're not dressed properly for the occasion, it's not warm enough, you might not make it to the top because you haven't done it for some time, you might faint halfway' etc. In my head I was already starting to lose the battle already.

I was very surprised to see the car park full as I turned into the park. It turns out that there are many people who go up the trail after work too although I was the only one who was dressed inappropriately in Friday office casuals. If I had gone home to change I know I would not make it out the front door again for the day.

Even while I was climbing the steps, my mind was still restless and tossed doubts of whether I will make it all the way to the top but I did persevere and made the full circuit in about forty five minutes, my usual pace.

The battle was finally won.