“The absolute simplicity. That's what I love. When you're climbing your mind is clear and free from all confusions. You have focus. And suddenly the light becomes sharper, the sounds are richer and you're filled with the deep, powerful presence of life.” 

― Heinrich Harrer, Seven Years in Tibet

 

Life is overwhelming. As cliche as that statement is, it still rings true. We get caught up in what is going wrong in our lives, what needs to be done, and what we wish we could change. Our phone buzzes, we open a few apps, and hours tick by. As a result, we can often lose sight of the beauty that is present each every day. I know I sure do.

 

One great thing about hiking is that it is easy to push these worries out of your mind.  There is something about the utter beauty of the landscape, and the simplicity of putting one foot in front of the other, that enables us to focus on the present moment. We take in the the splendor of the mountain peaks that reach the heavens, and hear the constant rush of the river in the valley below. 

 

There were many instances of absolute beauty throughout our trip. I was able to capture a few of these instances with my camera, attempting (and failing) to do the moments justice.  I can say for certain that all of us on the trip, at one point or another, will long for the beautiful sights, smells, and experiences of our journey. But you do not need to go to Nepal or Tibet to become overwhelmed in the beauty surrounding you.

 

When we begin to push the uncontrollable worries out of the mind, and focus on the present, we start to recognize how beautiful our surroundings are. The rays of sunlight that shine into our kitchen, the glint in our pet's eyes when we return home. We don't fundamentally change anything about them, but we view them with a different perspective. This moment is truly unique, there will never be another one exactly like it. Regardless of where we are in the world, we all can benefit by stopping and - if only for a briefly - soaking it all in, and feeling the powerful presence of life. I think Ferris Bueller said something like that?