Destination: Self!
If you have been following my blog, you’d know that it started as an excursion experience sharing blog. I would pick a trail from Surrey or Hampshire council website and would set off. However, over time it evolved, and I started sharing experiences from other aspects of life. Hiking experience changed over the last few years for me after I had my child. It had been a while since I had been in the woods on my own, when I received news from internal Philips communication channel that Philips had joined hands with Chiltern Charity Run to support a mental health charity called Mind.
Mental health is something that has been my focus for the last couple of years. I have learned to recognise that mental health needs as much conscious attention as we pay to our physical health. Both are interlinked in some way but they both need to be addressed individually to achieve an overall balanced fitness. As I develop deeper understanding, I realise there are several layers to mental health and that there are lots of taboos attached too. We take our mental fitness too much for granted and tend to turn a blind eye subconsciously.
Chiltern charity event was the perfect amalgamation of my evergreen hobby and my recently revealed truth. I grabbed the opportunity and chose for the 10k run (or walk) in an endeavour to find peace amongst the woods as well as support the cause for my belief.
Two of my lovely friends decided to join me in this adventure who were as unsure as me if we’d make it. Not worrying about the result, the trio embarked upon the journey catching up after a long time. We talked about our work, fitness, work life balance, challenges and touched upon mental health aspect of our lives. One of the girls is a practicing GP who shared some very interesting but eye-opening insights into mental wellbeing.
The hike was amid woods close to Henley on Thames. Henley is a beautiful town on the river Thames in Oxfordshire. The weather was kind to us on the day – not too hot, nor too cold. The calmness of woods began having an impact on us soon after we started. We took a break at about 4.7kms for about 10 mins and had some snacks. That break helped me cross the line of being too conscious about my walk and being able to surrender myself to nature.
Soon after we resumed, I left my friends behind, not on purpose, just the terrain and a bit of consistent speed. I crossed a few people who were ahead of me and shortly I found myself alone in the walk. That put me in the space where I could connect with myself through nature. I kept pausing every so often to take in the scenery and to allow myself to absorb into the moment. Without realising, the charity’s purpose of mental health was being fulfilled. My mind was unwinding, and life’s purpose was becoming clearer.
The final patch of the walk, approximately last 3 kms, were complete wonderous for me. There was no one I could see in front of me or behind me. There was open ground on side and dense woods on the other. This patch had concrete road to walk on, unlike the rest of the hike which was mostly off-road and woody. During this time, there was one moment where I could simply let go of everything, including myself and be totally tuned in with the universe.
As I came nearer to the final turn, crossing which I would be back into real world, I turned around and kissed the woods good-bye, making a promise to myself to visit them soon.
I thank Chiltern Charity and Philips for giving me this excellent opportunity and to enable me to disconnect.
Written by: Chahna D
Edited by: Milauni T
himalayaswithin 