The Ice Ax Cometh

After reading about Mount Everest, I started to wonder what it would be like to actually climb it? I saw myself in full climbing gear;
double plastic climbing boots with liners covering my wool socks, holding my ice ax, being held by my climbing harness while wearing pile pants with side zippers, a down parka, synthetic gloves, balaclava (I love these, brings out the real cat burglar in a person), 100% UV glacier glasses, and lipscreen.

That’s a lot of equipment to carry, not to mention the toll it would have on my back from hanging vertically, looking up to the open mouth of sky and slowly climbing inside. I know how Michelangelo must have felt when he painted the Sistine Ceiling.

The spontaneous vein in me would love to do it, but the pragmatist
handles this mental Supreme Court decision with caution, which I cannot disagree.

The boundless spirit in me says, “I can do it.”

The pragmatist says, “If you know you can do it, why do you have to prove to yourself what you already know?”

The boundless spirit enthuses, “But I want the world to see that I can do it?”

The pragmatist explains, “The world doesn’t care if you can or cannot do it. The world has enough on its plate.”

The boundless spirit adds, “But what if I want them to care?”

The pragmatist clarifies, “You shouldn’t worry about what the world thinks of you. Their thoughts don’t carry any weight in your Soul. You don’t have to prove that you can climb a mountain, swim across the ocean, set a world record, or try to win any accolades from what others deem is worthy - you’ve already done that by being here. You have won. You were born.”

The boundless spirit reflects and continues, “You mean, I don’t have to compete with anyone. I don’t have to feel inadequate when I don’t compare with anyone. I don’t have to...."

The pragmatist finishes, “All you have to do is feed your Soul. Care for it. Love yourself. Love what you do. Love how you do it. Love where you live in your heart. Love what you say - and say everything with tender loving care. Be aware of your tone, your language, your intent, your effect. Love all of life and all of live will love you.”

The boundless spirit adds, “That’s why I keep you around. You make a lot of sense. I must admit, being an Angeleno (native to Los Angeles), I don't do well in the cold. Certain things belong in the cold and I am not one of them. I am used to sweltering days of summer all year long, people in shorts, t-shirts, roller blades and kids wearing Heelys (shoes with wheels.)

Although I have climbed many Mount Everests in my mind, I could never do it outside the realm of imagination, it’s just not practical. I can’t imagine how I would feel stepping over dead bodies perfectly preserved in ice - that perished trying to accomplish greatness in reaching the goddess of the sky.

I would hate staring into their frozen faces, imagining what they were thinking - who they left behind - seeing their dreams stopped in mid stream - just to end up on top of a 60 million year old formation of rock - it’s just not practical.

The pragmatist says, “Touché!”