How to put into words my experience last weekend? Maybe it’s the sense of being a part of something inherently good, like New Zealand’s largest fundraising walk. Or the thrill of completing such a demanding physical and mental challenge of walking 25 hours without sleep. Or maybe it’s the feeling of being blessed to be part of something so much bigger than me. Something that’s changing lives for the better. Perhaps it’s a mixture of all of these.
The biggest thing I’m left with after the Oxfam Trailwalker – a 100km non-stop walk through the night; made possible by the support of my 3 walking buddies and our phenomenal support crew – is a sense of more deeply knowing myself.
No, I’m not going woo-woo on you.
You see part of my vision for our walk was to find out what I really had inside when the hour was darkest, the night was at its coldest and my system was craving rest. And I’m delighted to say that I’m chuffed with what I found.
When I least felt like walking the next ten steps let alone the next few kilometers in front of me, I discovered something extra. And it was prompted by a phrase that just seemed to pop out when I least expected it – around the 60km mark.
As it started to rain – one of my least favourite things to happen when I’m tramping – I said ‘I’ll take it’. I surprised myself, and thought about what I’d just said. I realised that in that moment, I’d taken myself from where I was to where I wanted to be. I stopped resisting the physical and mental fatigue – and experienced a feeling of ease.
Then it dawned on me that I’d hit the jackpot. I realized that everything we experience is literally based on our perception of it. In that moment I said ‘I’ll take it’ out loud, what I was really saying is ‘I can handle this. I’m enough.’
Once I’d said it for the first time, out it popped again and again. My buddies may have been wondering if my vocabulary had suddenly shrunk – however, I was on a roll. The strangest thing happened…the 65km became 75, then suddenly 88 and then there she was; the finish line.
Take away – We can handle anything we say we can handle. Take a minute now to give it some thought. If the phrase ‘I’ll take it’ works for you, then great – otherwise there maybe one that fits better.
Contribution Rocks!
Incidentally, if you’d like to find out more about an effective way to give back, and help women to get on their feet financially – check out the 2Gether Foundation facebook page –
www.facebook.com/2getherfoundation
Fi Jamieson-Folland D.O, is a Lifestyle Consultant, with over 20 years experience in Europe, Asia and New Zealand as a qualified osteopath, certified raw, vegan, gluten-free chef, educator, writer and health mentor. She lives in Auckland with her husband Chris, relishing an outdoor lifestyle and time with family and friends.