Whether you think you can or think you cannot, you are right.
I give a fearless but careful stare at the Koh-e-Baba Mountain ranges asking myself with all nervousness I’ve lived; Jawad, Can you???

Fellow Toastmasters, “Is nervousness a liability or an asset?”

You listen to your anxious whispers from within, follow negative calls or runaway your fears; you will surely end up scratching your head, grinding your teeth and banging your head to wall for dreams you turned down. This I have learned from practice not theories. Since teenage, I am addicted to making New Year’s resolutions. For me it is not a habit but necessary! In 2011 I had, “be bold & do the daring” on my list. Half way through the year, I was being my 2010 version. Then I got a chance to turn things around.

My friends & I decided to climb the tallest mountain ranges in Afghanistan. The Koh-e-Baba, which is Grandfather Mountains in English. You might get a sense of its altitude and adventure from the splendor of its name. For my friends, it was to kill time, but for me to kill my fear. They wanted to conquer Grandfather Mountains but I, my procrastination. It was not a mountain to climb, not a chilling below zero temperature to endure. I had to transform my faith or else I would revert back to the 2010 version of myself for the rest of my life. I had no such intention but a challenge to face, a nervousness to thrash.

We were a group of five in late 20’s and early 30’s against the 4900 glacial peaks. We walked 2 days and a night each carrying 10 – 15 KG food supplies, fire wood, sleeping bags and extra-garments. Finally, we made it to the top, but I made it to the deepest part of my heart & soul. For a moment, I became Bruce Wayne of Gotham not in Batman’s suite but in my polyester trousers and knitted jacket. I did not climb in batman’s cape but walked in my sneakers which poorly & understandably suffocated on our way back.

On top of the mountain, I realized life is not only about climbing up. It’s about enjoying the process of overcoming your nervousness and what you get at the end of the day. How often do we give up on something we have long dreamed of? We give up on someone before a hand-shake thinking we don’t match him/her. Or give up an act of kindness before our ego or reluctance.

Ryan Blair quotes we live only once, but once is enough if we do it right. Let’s break all the invincible forces that drag us backward than push us forward. Let’s live it right now, right this moment with confidence with no fear and no looking back. Unless you realize your strength, your value, your life-span, you will never live your true-self.

And I looked 4900 meters down from top of the Grandfather Mountains telling myself, I can and I did it!

It’s the script of my toastmaster table topic speech with slight different wording but same context. It’ great to be member in the club. While sharing our stories, we get to explore a lot about ourselves. I am glad I made the right decision to join the club.

Enjoy the photos of our trip and splendor of Grandfather Mountains: