Beat It

How to scape the daily routine through hiking

To escape the daily routine, you need a friend who is into hiking. And invites you to join her training. I accepted the invitation. I get to visit Ernest Debs Regional Park for the first time. And I also get to complete my secret mission once we reach the top.

Right at the entrance our first encounter was a steep hill. I sprint all the way to the top. Once there, I put both hands on my knees and grasp for air. That’s what I get for taking a year break. I can tell my legs are still strong, but my lungs have shrink.

Next stop was the lake. I got to see a family of turtles chilling on top of the rocks. And other reptiles enjoying the sun. We sat down for a moment under the shade. All our surroundings were beautifully reflected at the center of the lake.

At that moment I remember the story of Narcissus. He was a boy from Greek mythology. Narcissus fell in love with himself that he used to visit a lake every day to admire his image reflected on the water. One day he tripped and drown. And from there a beautiful white flower now named Narcissus was born. That’s the original version.

In Paulo Coelho’s version. The story doesn’t end there. The goddess of the forests comes to what was once the lake and now a lake of salty tears. And ask to the lake if she is crying for Narcissus. The lake claims that she is not crying for the boy and that she was not aware that Narcissus was beautiful. “I cry because through Narcissus eyes I could contemplate my own beauty reflected.”

After enough daydreaming it was time to get back on track. I tell my friend Tania that I will get ahead. She gave me directions to the end of the trail. I rush to the top.

Once I got there, I came across what look like an upside-down bench or maybe it is so broken that appears upside-down. I was so tired that I almost sit. I looked around and realize I was lost I had climbed the wrong hill. I called Tania and she gave me directions to the collect hill. I climb down and up.

At this point I was out of stamina. And my friend had to stop for me, until I could catch up with her. Finally, we reach our destination. I toss my cellphone to Tania. “It’s time to record my first TikTok video!”