Finally hiking again

Some weeks, a single day stands out and outshines all the others. While the rest of the rather monotonous days this week didn’t inspire me to take any new photos, lots of pictures were taken on a hike in the mountains.

If it hadn’t been for Thursday, this week would have been like any other. The days were filled with the usual activities, each of which is a nice moment in itself, but is just everyday life. Everyday life, mind you, for which I am very grateful. Jogging in the early hours of the morning, spending time on the balcony watering and looking after the plants. It’s always a bit like the Little Prince and his rose. Only for me it’s petunias, mallows, hydrangeas or lavender. Rosemary, sage or lemon balm. There is so much wisdom and happiness in taking time for something or someone that then becomes important in life and gives you back so much more than you have given. And these can also be commitments. “Take your time and do it with love” is what my mother always said when she was asked why the things she cooked or baked always turned out so perfectly. I try to apply this to everything I do. With mostly more but sometimes less success. Although the fact proves itself every time. If you don’t put your heart into it and just do it with your head, it won’t work. 

The power of invisioning what you really want

It’s like willpower and vision. It is very difficult to achieve something for the reason of a will in your head. It is much stronger to internalize a vision of what you want to achieve and let yourself be guided with the confidence to do the right thing or meet the right person at the right moment. Life is full of miracles and full of love, which you should always follow, even if hating sometimes seems more tempting. Or when things don’t work out the way you want them to. On Tuesday, after returning from a run, I could hardly move without severe back pain. Thanks to several applications of ointment and a round of yoga the next morning, it passed relatively quickly and nothing stood in the way of the hike on Thursday.

A perfect hiking day

The hike up the Sigriswil Rothorn was the first in many weeks that brought me back to the Bernese Oberland. The weather and various commitments simply didn’t allow it any earlier. With another full week of hiking coming up next month, it was about time to start hiking again. I’ve often written about hiking and how, in addition to the physical exertion, it also inspires me mentally to face life’s challenges in a positive way. But hiking is not just a challenge. Hiking is first and foremost about surrounding yourself with the beauty of nature, with fresh air, silence, the smell of hay and flowers and that of the cows you inevitably encounter when you hike in Switzerland. If, as on this hike, you end the day with a dip in the refreshing waters of Lake Thun, you really can call it a perfect day. And so the photos from this week speak for themselves.

Everyone wants to live on top of the mountain, but all the happiness and growth occurs while you are climbing it.

Andy Rooney

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