When I first realised you could die doing these very cool, very life-affirming and life-enhancing things in the outdoors I was shocked.
At the time, the news that a friend died kayaking on a grade three river (medium risk, not so risky really - or so I thought) absolutely baffled and stunned me.
I couldn’t balance the sheer joy I got with the fact that I, or my friends, could actually die.
“How could that happen?”
I didn’t really know.
Since then it’s almost become almost a fact of life.
Especially when I lived in a mountain town packed full of climbers and jumpers and kayakers and skiers and snowboarders.
All of a sudden that guy who I would smile across the bar at was gone.
Now it’s -
- and the words are going to come out wrong no matter how hard I try so bear with me -
Now it’s almost a bittersweet thing to me when someone I know or in the outdoors community dies.
There’s sadness for them not being around, for their partners and families who they leave behind.
But there’s inspiration too - because these guys inspire me no end to make the most of each and every single moment.
I’ll never be as good or as bold as some of these people - nor to I want to be - but they still inspire me to live life well.
Even in dying.
Because we just don’t know how much time we have.
There was a guy I worked with who - at 23 years old - went home early with stomach pains and was dead 2 weeks later.
That was a huge lesson.
A huge wake up call, actually.
And when someone else goes, again I get that reminder.
Steph Davis, the climber and base jumper says it well when she says that death shouldn't be removed from life: __________________
“Death is a part of life. To me, what matters most is living a good life and a curious life, one that is beautiful and true to one’s heart.” ___________________
Time is limited, and the I want to fill it with as much goodness - in every aspect of my life - as possible.
Take care out there, enjoy it. - Arjuna