Tomorrow will mark the second anniversary of that epiphanous day: the climb up Mount Snowdon, 7 August 2021. The memory of it is still etched deeply into my mind and into my outlook on life forever more. I am grateful for that experience because it proved to me so much about myself that I had never given real credence to.
Two years on and the lessons learned from Snowdon continue to shape my thinking. I know I have talked myself into moving outside of my comfort zone and trying new things which will challenge me. For example, a new job where I am learning new computer skills and dealing with queries where my knowledge base may be limited initially but I’m not afraid to make independent investigations and resolve the matter at hand. Within that, I have regular human interactions and am exposed to people from all different walks of life and I relish that opportunity. Uniformity is so staid.
Then, there’s the rekindled desire to explore the wider world. I have travelled to three different countries in this past year alone whereas for all the time since I returned from Saudi Arabia in 2016, I hadn’t had the chance to do that at all. One of those trips was directly linked to my charity work and that, in itself, is an ambition I have held since long before I was even in my 20s.
The list of things I have been blessed to experience and put into practice is one that has finally started and I hope will continue to grow, inshaAllah. However, what is even more fundamental is the mindset that has allowed it all to occur. Going back to the moment when I was descending Snowdon, I recall reeling from the accomplishment I had achieved yet had never had any intention to do in the first place! It spoke volumes to me. I realised that the only person who could say ‘no’ to me exploring new territory was myself. All I ever need is Allah’s permission and it’s only if I attempt to do something and fail, will I know that He never wanted me to achieve it anyway. And even that is not a loss to lament. The experience in and of itself is something that builds character and resilience. It is His wisdom that overrides everything, good or seemingly bad.
At this time in my life, there are still other metaphorical mountains I need to climb. In fact, they are personal goals I have set for myself but not given them any serious thought mostly because I have convinced myself I may fail. Not the best foothold from which to climb up, I know. InshaAllah, I will conquer that weakness as I have done with other things and not give up until I have reached the summit. It will be a challenging climb and I know I probably will want to give up on the way. (That thought was a recurring theme on Snowdon!) However, once I set out, I know there will be no going back. My mind will remind me that once I’m at the top of this virtual climb, I’ll want to take in the view from up there and soak it all in.
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