“You Need the Mountains Mate” – Finding clarity in the Lakeland Fells.

A few weeks ago, after ANOTHER conversation about work, deadlines and spinning too many plates, a mate of mine simply said:

“You need the mountains Mate!”

That’s all he said, he didn’t question my action plan, advise me to meditate or take on more staff, he just said… “You need the mountains Mate!”

And he was right, he knows that the Lakeland Fells are my place to go in times like this… The peace and quiet, the clean air and the challenge of making it to the summit in sideways rain forces my mind to slow down and reset.

Apologies for the corporate Bull S**t there….

But I can’t think of a better way to describe it, the mountains help calm my mind, it takes my nose away from the grindstone and helps put things into perspective.

Being in that, sometimes harsh, environment where your legs are aching, the rain is stinging your face and you’re absolutely freezing has a funny way of putting life into perspective. Don’t get me wrong, the odd sunny day in the Lakes does happen, but somehow the miserable ones seem to leave the biggest impression. Suddenly, the things that seemed so important back home don’t feel quite so urgent anymore. It clears the fog in my mind and helps me make better decisions when I return home.

Thing is, it’s not even the hiking itself. The reset starts long before I’ve slipped on my boots. It’s driving up the A591 and seeing the mountains appear on the horizon, it’s breathing that slightly cooler, cleaner air, it’s wandering around Keswick or Ambleside with that sense of belonging, sitting in a warm pub with beautiful pint of ale after a hard days hiking, it’s waking up knowing that the hardest decision of the day is which Wainwright to climb…

I think that’s why when life gets hectic, my mind always drifts back there… Not because I’m trying to run away from my problems, because I know what waits for me when I get there. A quieter mind, slower pace and a reminder that life is a lot bigger than programmes and deadlines!

A mate of mine said to me the other day after listening to me moan about work:

“You need the mountains, mate.”

I don’t think he meant I needed another hike.

I think he meant I needed reminding of what really matters.

Take it easy.

TM

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