Hike Of Life.

Last week, I shared my concern for a relative whose relationship with alcohol is on the rocks, and not ice in a drink. It seems to be drinking him instead of the other way around. The good news is that the journey to recovery has begun, and we pray that he reaps the maximum from this process. That he will take full advantage of this gift of desperation to the extent that he will never need to go back there. Our prayer remains that after this season of recovery and rebuilding, he will be opening more pleasant gifts wrapped in hope, good health and wholesome relationships with his family and others.

Hiking is a sport (is it?) I picked up after my Mzee passed away in 2021. Nature is paracetamol. Being out there on the trails helped me process the demise of my father by bringing down the fever of loss. I remember the day before we lost him, it was looking bleak. I left the hospital and went to run in Karura. Thankfully, it was drizzling, so my tears resembled the raindrops hitting my kikuyu forehead hehe. I was terrified because I could feel Mzee slipping away from us, and there was nothing we could do about it. I made a desperate prayer to Sir God, who strangely felt like he was hovering over the tree canopy in Karura. I think God lives in the forest also. That’s why we should stop cutting down trees bila plan. If the forests disappear, so might He, and that’s a terrifying thought.

I asked him to heal my father and to keep his family from shame. Not sure why those two petitions, but it’s what came to mind. Well, he did heal my father by taking him home the next day. In the weeks that followed, we gave him a befitting send-off. All ground was covered, and no debt was owed. So, we can say Mzee’s family wasn’t brought to shame. Thank you, sir God, for answering the prayer you put in my heart. Almost 4 years later, I remain grateful.

My buddy bullied me last Saturday to accompany him to the Aberdare ranges for a hike. We were to attempt the fourth-highest peak in the Aberdare, Rurimeria. I gave in to the coercion because Rurimeria is one of the tougher hikes I have yet to attempt. We left the evening before so we could have an early start the next morning. It was estimated to take more than 7 hours (15 kilometres) to the summit and back, so an early start is advisable. Then add that we were hiking in the rainy season, and it tends to rain in the afternoon and into the evening., We wanted to be done by the time it poured.

We were a small group, so the pace was not too slow. My buddy is a gift from hiking to me. He’s the leader of our hiking pack. Maybe it’s because hiking isn’t just a leisurely option to kill a weekend. To him, it was a matter that would determine how he lived his life going forward. Improving his health was the goal, unlike many who take to the trails to heal from heartbreak, hehe. Captain (as we fondly refer to him) struggled with fitting in while growing up. It’s his fault in my view because he’s too intelligent for his age, hehe. As a result, he got his version of desperation just like my rela in last week’s story.

He harboured destructive thoughts years back, and that made him live with one foot in this world and another in the next. Thankfully, he chose to bring the other foot back into this world. He chose life. And now that he chose to not just live but thrive, he decided to improve his physical health as he worked on his mental health, too. And that’s when he got into hiking. He was also the influence behind my climbing Mt Kenya in 2023. I’m beginning to feel used, but he’s a good man, so why not? If that’s what will make him summit in life, then I’m glad to play a small role.

Folks, it appears coming back from the brink alone won’t do. Just like Captain here and my rela battling alcoholism, after we step back from the cliff, we need to ring fence ourselves to avoid going back there. Chances are, if we get back to the edge, then there might be no turning back. That will be a sad ending. For captain, hiking is his way of climbing to a life of joy, balance and impact. Summiting to him signifies living significantly and moves him further away from those dark thoughts and corridors of our minds where destruction lurks around the corner like a bandit waiting to pounce. Because once we lose the battle in our mind, then our heart and body follow.

What’s your hike of life, folks? Have you been tormented almost out of this life and have survived by the skin of your teeth? Well, it’s ok to pause and take a breath for survival, but it’s advisable not to remain near the edge. For my rela, rehab alone won’t do. He needs to get into a lifelong support program like AA (alcoholic anonymous) to remain clear of danger. It’s similar to me starting a brand-new career in coaching. I needed to hang around other coaches to grow and refine my craft, otherwise I’ll just have a certificate bila expertise, and I would end up being a lousy coach on paper.

We summitted with my fellow silver fox and drove back with aching muscles but feeling better than we left. I’m happy to be his support system and he mine, especially because he’s sharper than I. I turn on my Bluetooth when I’m with him to download some cleverness, hehe. So, if we meet and I sound sharper than the last time we met, just know it’s the captain’s influence on me, especially the insights from our banter on the trails.