Last Updated on May 7, 2023 by Aswetravel
Life Lessons from Climbing Adam’s Peak In Sri Lanka – Earlier this year we traveled to Sri Lanka, a country full of beauty and adventure.
We had heard about the beautiful view of the sunrise from the top of a sacred mountain called Adam’s Peak, and decided to join thousands of pilgrims on their pilgrimage to the peak.
Being a holy place for both Buddhists, Hindus, Muslims and Christians, Adam’s Peak is very unique.
To be at the top when the sun rose, you had to begin the hike at 2am.
Life Lessons from Climbing Adam’s Peak In Sri Lanka
The rain was pouring down during the entire 4 hour climb up to the peak, small waterfalls had been created in the rocks next to the steps, and you had to wade through deep large mud pools in darkness.
Just our luck – we had managed to pick the most miserable night of the year to climb Adam’s Peak, but we were far from the only ones.
We ended up bringing home much more than just wet clothes, as we learned a few useful life lessons from the journey.
It’s Easier If You Enjoy The Process
Life Lessons from Climbing Adam’s Peak In Sri Lanka
Whenever you were at your lowest, with wet hair and clothes sticking to your skin.
Someone would start chanting, almost as though they could feel your struggle.
The chanting spread like a fire among the climbers who all joined in, singing the same lyrics over and over.
I have no idea what they said, but it was beautiful and it reminded me of everyone else who were with me going through the same struggles, and looking around me realizing what a crazy thing I was doing made me enjoy the process.
I will try my best to apply this to other aspects of my life, and whenever things get tough, look around and see the beauty of it and remember that things aren’t so bad after all.
We All Climb Adam’s Peak For A Reason
We all had a different purpose for climbing that mountain, and for me it became about completing something, about not giving in, and showing myself that I could do it.
When we finally reached the top, I was wet, cold, exhausted – and happy – the view was nice, but it was the feeling of accomplishment that really meant something more.
Next time I’m in doubt, I will think of how great it felt to be proud over exceeding my own expectations.
The Only Thing Stopping You Is Your Mind
While I’m not a hiker at all, I can tell you that Adam’s Peak is not an easy climb.
I would have thought it impossible for a one-legged person to climb it, if I hadn’t seen it with my own eyes.
In the end, it all comes down to your mind.
If your mind is strong enough, you can accomplish things well beyond what others would say is impossible.
The mind will give up before the body does.
We’re Stronger Together
If I would have been alone climbing for 4 hours at night in the worst possible rainstorm, I would have given up before I even began.
But being surrounded by thousands of people, from 4 year old children to 90 year old women and men with bent backs climbing the mountain in their bare feet, gave me the strength and inspiration to carry on.
If you do it together, you can bring each other up.
You Must Finish What You Begin
On the way down from the mountain, our legs were shaking from the stress endured during the climb.
The pain was almost unbearable, but you had to get down and there was only one way to go.
“Getting to the summit is optional, getting down is mandatory” – Ed Viesturs.
It’s the same thing with life, we often reach points where we simply have no choice to just stop but have to finish what we started.
