“If every day is an awakening, you will never grow old. You will just keep growing” Gail Sheehy, Author, 1937 - present
As a keen mountaineer I am very aware of the available light each day offers for navigation. Whilst it is very possible (and often fun) to navigate at night it is important to be aware when the sun is setting and when navigable light will be lost. I was very fortunate to be out climbing in wonderful snow conditions just a few days ago. It was one of the best, and toughest, mountain days that I had experienced for a long while so much so I lost track of time. That got me wondering what the time was. I was exhausted and had been out for a good 6-7 hours and yet it was still light? I was amazed to discover that it was almost 4:30pm. Amazed because it just seemed like a few days ago when we would have been plunged into the depths of darkness at this time. Of course I knew that we had already passed the winter solstice some weeks ago but I had not actually experienced any noticeable shift or internalised what that might mean.
This discovery filled me with such joy and excitement as the prospect to a mountaineer, or indeed anyone who enjoys the outdoors, of more daylight is like receiving a gift. Such was the magnitude of this gift that the last 2km seemed effortless and over in no time at all. This simple awareness, this awakening made my old tired legs young once again.
Regardless of who you are and what you do, be it inside of work or outside, as a leader or an employee the daily act of awakening, of becoming aware, is at the heart of not only being alive but staying alive.
