That’s right. I’m doing it.
I’m climbing to the summit of Africa’s highest peak with my sixty-three year-old father.
If all goes to plan, I’ll arrive at the summit on August 30th, 2010 – my thirtieth birthday.
“It’s just something I have to do.”
That’s what I tell people.
And that’s what I tell myself.
I don’t know who has asked the question of why I’m going to climb a mountain more – other people, or myself.
I tell myself, “It’s just something I have to do.” And I mean it.
I have to do this.
This mountain is literal and metaphoric.
Can you think of a better metaphor in one’s life than “climbing a mountain?”
There’s so many cliches to describe the difficulties or obstacles one must overcome, but I find an incredible amount of irony in this journey to Mount Kilimanjaro. I feel, metaphorically, as I turn thirty years old that I have to climb a mountain in my life. So what better way to conquer that imaginary mountain than to climb one for real?
I’m not a thrill-seeker, nor do I have a death wish.
This is just something I have to do.
I’m not obsessed with age, nor am I concerned about an even number such as thirty. If we lived on Venus, I’d be 2,875 years old. So who cares…
But I’m certainly entering a new phase of my life as I’m no longer a “young man.” Turning twenty was like saying, “Well, I’m no longer a teenager.” But turning thirty I think, “Well, I’m no longer a kid….even if I’ll always be one at heart.”
I have an incredible life.
I have it easy. We all do.
I have my health, my friends, my family, and a job that I love.
Do I feel “complete?” Not really. I plan on having a family of my own someday.
But as anybody travels the world and sees the conditions and lifestyles that other people live in as they pail in comparison to ours, you have to feel quite content to have been born in a city like Toronto, in a place like Canada, and to people like your parents – whoever they may be.
I have no adversity in my life. I have no diseases, I’m not living in squalor.
But like anybody else, I have my own issues. We all have fears; rational or otherwise.
If I can climb to the top of a 20,000 foot mountain over the course of seven days, then I can do anything in my life.
If I can climb to the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro, then I can come back to Toronto and let nothing bother me ever again.
I look around in my immediate world and I see so many people that are content to simply continue the status quo.
Whether I look at the industry I work in, the age group I reside in, the social castes that I might often associate with – I see so many people that are unremarkable and despite seemingly having ‘everything;’ they have nothing.
To each, their own. I understand that. But I guess this journey is a preemptive strike against what I don’t want to become one day – utterly complacent.
My trek begins on August 25th, and I’ll be blogging LIVE from Mount Kilimanjaro.
Those of my readers who believe that a real estate blog should only contain articles about real estate can simply hibernate until Labour Day.
But if any of you are interested in my journey, please feel free to check out my daily updates as they begin next Monday.
I’m nothing short of forthcoming with my opinions on real estate, business, and life, and I certainly won’t be holding anything back as I blog while trekking up a mountain and discovering my true self.
If ever I’ve turned this blog into a “Dear Diary” of sorts in the past, I can assure you – you ain’t seen nothing yet…
MattO
at 8:18 am
good luck with that! my brother did it a few months ago, and said that there were tons of people hurling on the way up cuz it was just so physically demanding..
JG
at 9:13 am
Best of luck!! It sounds awesome!
it was something i was to do years ago, and regret not doing it – maybe one day….
Andy
at 9:50 am
Hmmm, that’s nice!
What’s your budget for the trip?
AnonymousReader
at 10:18 am
I rarely post but being a travel junkie, I couldn’t resist. I truly understand what you mean about conquering obstacles. One of the biggest physical challenges in my life was the Torres del Paine circuit in Chilean Patagonia; it was also my most rewarding. Life just hasn’t been the same now that I know that such an immense personal undertaking is achievable.
All the best on Kilimanjaro! I look forward to reading your updates!
earth mother
at 11:13 am
An awesome trip of a lifetime! Can’t wait for the daily updates! Keep your wits about you, focus like an olympian, and bring back good memories!! Maybe a beach in Portugal next time?? Best of luck!!
Adam
at 5:28 pm
That sounds awesome! Best of luck to you and your father David, I hope all goes well.
Craig
at 11:31 pm
Wow, good luck and safe journey!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0dLEgniDzCw
Krupo
at 1:56 am
Good luck! Stay hydrated.
Chuck
at 4:54 pm
Rock that mountain dude!