We returned from Spain at midnight. The very next day we drove 60 miles somewhere near Alba, at a campsite in the mountains @ Cetea. And we had delicious food cooked on wood burning fire, and rested and enjoyed the beautiful area. Then we all naively hopped on a trail to explore the surroundings. It was an absurd 7 hours hike, more than 4000 ft elevation and 18 km long. It was so painful, I had forgotten how pain felt like. We were debating why in the world didn’t we stop sooner, before getting to the very top. Well, the view we were promised for one. Others did it because they couldn’t accept defeat. I did it because I can’t leave things unfinished. And some probably did it for fear-of-missing-out.

It was all worth it. I still cringe as I get off the couch. Mind you, we returned home last night at midnight again. The only relief I got was a warm bath and hydrating cream for my face.

I had an amazing community building time. Talking while walking about passions, business and leadership, self-knowledge and bottom line friendship. None of the 40 people we hiked with complained … we acknowledged the tiredness and pain and the hunger, but it was quite inspiring to hike alongside these people. The encouragements came from the most unexpected places and in the most original ways.

We were shaking climbing the steepest part, through rocks. But as we’ve seen and heard about it before, humans have untaped resources of energy, hidden away even from our own knowledge. In case of danger or out sheer will power, we can tap into those reserves and continue to push our limits.

We genuinely smile there at the top. And we couldn’t believe our eyes how beautiful that area is. I am glad we made it to the top.