You Can/You Will/ You Must

How many of you have heard of Mount Everest? Anyone been there? Anyone been to Everest Base Camp? Supreme mountain-walk on earth! Majestic silhouette of Mt. Everest! 5565 meters above sea level! Minus 10 temperature! Hundreds of trekkers from across the globe, India, Germany, US, UK, Italy, Poland, Holand, Africa, smiley faces saying “Namaste”, you and your thoughts. That’s Everest Base Camp (EBC) Trekking, 4th top most & toughest destination in the world”. Dear Toastmasters and guests good evening. I was thrilled, when I heard about EBC and decided to venture. But, I never walked more than 5 mins in my life. Mind recalled, whenever the clouds of pain and sadness loomed, tears came till the eyelashes and this lonely heart got scared, tell your heart -YOU CAN, YOU WILL AND YOU MUST. My fitness regime started, run, walk, and climb. 3 months, I could run 10 kms, climb 15 floors and reduced from 67 to 57. Then comes family - my granny asks – trekking? What is trekking? We go up and? Reach the peak and then come down. Then Trek Nandi Hills -why EBC? The best answer for that is – escape. Our adventure started with flying to world’s most dangerous airport; I told pilot “our life is in your hand”. After spectacular flight and safe landing, with 3 porters and guide we started EBC endeavor. Traveling changes your perception. You start caring for the issues larger than you. Sight of five footer carrying godrej cupboard on his back, makes you realize life is unfair. Bollywood heroes carrying heroines doesn’t count. In that altitude, every step you take, every move you make, you get dead tired due to less oxygen. People carry gas cylinder, tables, generator and cots from 2000 ft to 18000 ft. You cognize that world is both very large and very small. You develop pristine respect for pain and suffering, seeing two-thirds of humanity struggling to get one meal a day. 15 days in mysterious world, as days passed, I was exhausted, reduced appetite, frozen water in the washroom, ice-breaking to get water; challenging but fun! Gloves, monkey cap, woolen wears, 3 socks, 1 pull over, high altitude jacket, in spite of 7 layers; cold was extreme. That evening, an old couple was approaching our guesthouse. They looked cheerful and lovely. By nature, we are curious about age. I was shocked to hear Kasahara couple was just 79. Here, we get prepared by 30 for arthritis. Fitness is ones state of mind. One day we saw 3-acre plain ground; thousands of pebbles set one upon another. I assumed, must be prayer stones and about to set pebbles seeking salary-hike. Our guide said those are memoirs of deceased trekkers of Everest and EBC. It was scary, I stood in silence, I stood in sadness, I stood frozen, I stood in disbelief thinking of the men, women and children who lost their life, chasing their dreams. Life was “tasteless”, without spice! 15 days, same bread omlete/lentil rice, boiled egg & hot water. Mind was humming– “Is this the feeling, I need to walk with”. Is it worth? Yes, when you stand proudly in front of elegant EBC. After EBC, final climb was waiting. That day, I had headache. Severe headache results in retreat, no further walk. I didn’t want to give up I told myself - YOU CAN, YOU WILL AND YOU MUST. Morning, with slight headache, we started summiting; many were falling sick and waning. Each step was giant leap, hard, painful and strenuous. Peak looked too steep to walk, I thought of retreating. I saw another old couple at 60s walking with 2 kids. Man was carrying baby in backpack and lady with a 4 year old girl, who was crying. We assumed girl is tired. Our guide offered to carry her. That small girl says – I am crying because “we are late for the sunrise, I am not tired”. Wow, my headache vanished. I told myself YOU TOO CAN, YOU WILL AND YOU MUST and started hiking. In the next one hour, I was on the peak, first among group to reach the summit. Most magnificent mountain panorama I have seen in my life: 15 days – in a land where life is simple; people are gentle, culture is wonderful; paths are steep, terrains are tough and the air is thin! I felt, as if I am on the top of the world; I really was. I feel the same way as I stand in front of you. Never did I imagine I will walk that classic path of EBC, when I heard about it the first time. Never did I imagine, I will give Project 10 before this august audience when I joined toastmasters last April. It gave me courage, confidence, and an opportunity. A dream accomplished. All I had was “YOU CAN, YOU WILL AND YOU MUST”! Do the impossible, travel the untraveled, ravel the unraveled, perceive the world. Spend a noon on lakeside, an evening on streets of green pasture. Hike adjacent trail. Ascend nearby mountain. Get heart broken by the "killing fields" of history. Sway in stream. These memories shape your life; they're eternal. Dear all, will you close your eyes for a moment? Imagine - blue sky, celestial morning, divine river, enthralling clouds, frozen glaciers, gentle breeze, humble porters, jingles of yak, Soothing buddhist chants, swaying alpines, splendid sunrays on pearl white mountain, marvelous apple farms, snowy shower, nature at its glory. Open your eyes. Would you want to walk that glorious path? All you need is - YOU CAN, YOU WILL AND YOU MUST.