“I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear.” — Nelson Mandela
I have done all sorts of going solo, dining solo, drinking on my own, watching movies, roaming around the city, having coffee, going to this and that. But never have done going solo in the forest, which I have been dying to do so.
Today, October 30, 2026. I have decided to take a detour from my usual trail where I do my morning walks. There was this path, longer and it was said to be a great trail to do a hike and it will lead you directly to your desired open area.
I googled it, and it was longer than I thought it was. So yeah, I did muster courage thinking that it is going to be fun doing so. The google map showed me a road, surrounded by private residences and is far from the crowded busy streets… Plus it was on top of the mountain! I have taken note of my fear of heights, and said to myself. Okay, I got this since it’s just a hike along the highway, not so highway but rather a very quiet highway!
I got on my feet and started moving, I have taken a few meters from where I started and I started to feel bored! Thinking I would just go back and head down to my usual trail cause it was all but asphalts and private luxurious residences! Boring! Grabbed my phone and took another look at my google map! I saw a faint green line indicating a trail, and it seemed to cut my hike short but everything was green, got me a bit curious and scared somehow.
Anyhow, I started looking for the starting point of the trail. I saw huge trees, cliffs and a narrow concrete path heading down. It was in zigzag! I took my first step, then another step and another step until I can feel something crawled under my skin. My FEAR! It was nothing but bushes and huge trees and the silence, turned my playlist loud and kept walking following the path.
It was to cut short but still a longer walk case the trail swirves and was designed closely from one another which requires a long walk before every curve, fear; for again crawling under my skin and my head went. Go back, before you reach the middle of this nowhere and nothingness! But no! I kept going, and I saw the path just an inch away from the cliff, one after another I felt queasy! I stood closer to the boulder just two steps away from the cliff, inhaled and exhaled. You can do this!
I have no one with me but courage and will..a fainting one at some point hahaha! As soon as my gut settled, I was on my feet and started walking again.
What I felt while I was in the middle of the forest was scarier than this skeleton with blue fabric waving at me. This thing was like thanking me for conquering what I thought would be my death! Haha
But, that’s not it! While I was taking my time wandering around that trail, I saw amazing things too!
I saw this from my usual trail before deciding which way I should go.
I saw this green creature struggling as ants tried to paralyze it..must be enough to supply them days. Law of nature, I feel bad for the cricket but what to do?
It may not be that hike everyone might like or love, to me…. It was a simple hike that reminded me of one thing.
NOTHING IS GREATER THAN A HEAR THAT KEEPS GOING NO MATTER HOW CHALLENGING THE PATH IS.
For others; it might be an easy thing to do.. for some people like me, it’s something that we fear to try and is worth our courage!
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