GIVE: Climbing Kili
Written by: Julie Rolla
11/3/2014
Climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro is the single most proud accomplishment of my life so far.
Though it is a broad statement, there was more to this journey than just placing one foot in front of the other. I never realized that over a journey of 19,341 feet into the clouds–or past the clouds I should say–I would be testing every strength capable of my existence. In those five days I spent on The Roof of Africa, I was pushed to my physical limit, my mental limit, and my spiritual limit.
I didn’t know I could reach the point where my body could no longer physically walk, and still keep going.
“Getting the wind knocked out of you is the only way to remind your lungs how much they like the taste of air.”
– Sarah Key
I knew taking every step would be mentally challenging, but I never considered ever actually giving up (no matter how much I wanted to). When I reached the top of the mountain, and finally saw the sign I had been Google imaging for months, I realized how strong I was.
Nothing stopped me, not even myself.
No negative thought or blister I had made me slow down from reaching my goal and achieving my dream. I don’t know many other experiences in the world where every part of your being is challenged to its breaking point, but I would recommend it to anyone.