An unforgettable memory

When I was a teenager, my parents allowed me to spend some exceptional summers at a summer camp in the Eastern Townships of Quebec. Camp Claret became my “permanent residence” for 5 summers.

Dad, who was a teacher during the school year, was available for the summer months and was hired as activities coordinator. At that time, there were only 3 girls’ tents, while there were 10 for the boys.

I was one of the “big girls” and we had “big girl” activities. We’d go on expeditions lasting several days. Provisions divided between us. The backpacks we used then were nowhere near as good as those sold today! Ours were made of heavy, leaky army canvas! Clothes and sleeping bags got wet even in dry weather! We had to balance the weight in the bag, otherwise we’d quickly become uncomfortable.

One of my fondest memories of those summers is of a trip we took up Mont Ham. I was 14. This memory left an indelible mark on my life, transforming my perception of the world and leaving a deep imprint on my heart. The kind of memory that stays with you forever.

In those days, the path up to the summit was far from being as well-marked as it is today. We followed a sometimes very steep route, walking on rock with no footholds to secure our ascent. But once we reached the summit, we were rewarded by the majestic landscape before our eyes. This mountain being one of the highest in the region, on a clear day we could see far into the distance.

This time was no exception. By the time we reached the summit in the late afternoon, the weather was warm and sunny, and we were treated to a magnificent sunset.

The excursion was to last until the next day, so we set up our bivouac on the mountain, sleeping under the stars. Few trees on the summit – none near us – and few dead branches to make a fire. No problem at all! In our youthful enthusiasm, we managed to gather enough wood to last a siege of several hours.

Imagine this.

A group of 10-12 teenage girls accompanied by two leaders, around a campfire that had to stay lit all night to provide light, warmth and keep the animals away. We sang, laughed and chatted away. Just happiness!

We had to do “guard duty” to keep the flame burning, but you can imagine that someone fell asleep and the fire went out before morning!

It was the sun that woke us up that morning. A bright, intense sun.

In my memory, I woke up before my companions. When I opened my eyes, I first saw that the fire was really dead, but what filled me with joy and gratitude was the landscape before my eyes: big white “flaky” clouds as far as the eye could see.

It was as if we were on top of the world! Just us in the hot sun. And those thick, fluffy clouds that were like a carpet we could have walked on!

I can’t remember if the other girls were as amazed as I was. The kind of wonder that leaves you speechless. To this day, I still have a feeling of fulfillment when I think back on that moment.

As we made our way down to the base of the mountain, the sun became increasingly overcast, until halfway down, when it began to rain. Gone was the warming sun. It was raining hard at the bottom of the mountain.

The highlight of my life

It’s this memory that keeps me hopeful in the less easy times I sometimes go through.

Why?

Because I KNOW that beyond the clouds, the sun is shining brightly. Even if I can’t see it now, it’s there a little higher up. That’s all there is to it! No matter where or when, a ray of sunshine will eventually show up in my life to brighten and warm me up.

Hence the importance of gaining altitude!

When our noses are too “glued” to a situation, a problem or a difficulty, we can’t see the whole picture. We can lose sight of the good, the beautiful, the gentle, because we’re somehow obsessed with the hard, the sad, the worrying.

Everything else is there!

So how do you go about it?

My favorite way to gain altitude is, of course, to laugh. Laughing intentionally allows me to breathe and also to laugh at what’s bothering me. Now, you might say that I’m probably laughing yellow, but you wouldn’t be entirely wrong! I really force myself at times. But after a few seconds, I hear myself thinking that it’s ridiculous to laugh like that and… the magic happens! I’m laughing for real! Even for a few seconds, it works. I continue on my way with a slightly lighter heart. Altitude.

We can also practice cardiac coherence. By focusing our attention on our breathing for 5 minutes, we “pause” our mind. Here’s a short tutorial. Altitude.

During my enforced confinement, I had started doing Zen art. Drawing, concentrating on small patterns, repetition and arrangement, gave me great satisfaction and pleasure. After an hour of “doodling”, I felt as if I’d been taking care of myself for a long time. Altitude.

Get out into nature for a walk, a swim, cook a new recipe, do-it-yourself, paint… Altitude.

At laughter yogamany of the exercises focus on things that are less funny (or not funny at all!). The VISA account, no money, the argument… Has it occurred to you that if you can laugh about it all, your brain might realize that it’s not as dramatic as you thought? That’s the lesson I’ve learned.

Get moving! Gain altitude!

And keep smiling

Laughter, joy and health

Linda