Three Lessons Big Dreamers Must Embrace
Big Dreams
“The hardest mountain to climb is the one within.”
J. Lynn
In my teens, we moved from Edmonton, Alberta, to BC.
Edmonton is as flat as a roadside diner pancake. Sure, it has perks, like a healthy economy and striking canola fields, but it doesn’t hold a candle to a glistening snow-capped mountain peak at sunrise.
As ambitious as my folks were, they weren’t about to throw four kids and a sheltie in the car and head to the glorious Rocky Mountains just 4 hours away. Our preferred destination was a 30-minute drive to Alberta Lake for french fries and (intermittent) leeches.
As an adult now living in BC, my daughter, husband and I camp in the mountains and even climb them — but admittedly, when I’m standing on top of them, I’m terrified by the sheer magnitude of them.
Here are three lessons from my favourite mountain climbing documentary films.
SPOILER ALERT: I reveal details of the films. You may want to see these movies first and then return to this article to compare notes.
The Alpinist featuring 23 yr old Marc-André Leclerc
#1. The Alpinist
‘The Alpinist,’ kept us on edge for the entire movie.
Marc Leclerc, a young man in his 20s, fell in love with the mountains as a child, after reading stories of historic climbers.
A solo climber, he feels free and alive when transversing a steep cliff, without any ties to the mountain.
I couldn’t help but hold my breath, afraid we may watch him plunge to his death.
Unlike most climbers, Marc creates his path as he climbs. He discovers where to place his feet and hands at the moment. He says that he ‘reads the signals that the mountain sends him.’
His free spirit, determination, and calmness are contagious, and I see a depth within him that reminds me of a sattvic yogi or a Buddhist lama, adept at the practice of detachment.
As the documentary unfolds we connect to a vulnerable and intensely focused young man, untethered by the superficialities of life, experiencing the greatest inner freedom found, only in the mountains.
Lesson: Be who you are when you’re being genuine with yourself. It takes practice to get to know ourselves and a loving mentor such as a parent, good friend, or teacher helps. As Marc’s mom asks at the end of the film, ‘What will you do with your time on earth? Will you follow your dreams?”
P.S. Marc’s journey is extreme. Although he inspires me, I’m not suggesting you do what he did. Be mindful, and make smart decisions that are right for you.
14 Peaks Nothing Is Impossible
#2. 14 Peaks Nothing is Impossible
Nimsdai Purja is a tough, kind-hearted (now) 39-year-old Nepalese mountain climber. One of the first things I admire about him is his stubborn conviction to fulfill his vision of climbing 14 peaks in 7 months.
It’s clear from the beginning that he’s the only one who believes in his vision and despite fervently looking for financing, no one helps. To add to his difficulties, we learn that he is the main breadwinner in his family, supporting his mother and father too.
Traditionally, a young Nepalese male is expected to sacrifice his dreams to care for his family. To do so, Nimsdai was in the army where he made a living. But his dream of climbing 14 peaks in an unprecedented amount of time and elevating the Nepalese Sherpas — the people who get climbers to the top of the mountain — convinced him to leave the Army despite family pressure and the risk of looking like a lunatic.
Without seeing the documentary, one might think Nimsdai was selfish, but that’s not the case. His motive is to elevate his team and his Country. He says, ‘He wanted to show the world what a human can do.’
Despite all of his courage, even he has to get his confidence back after a fall.
This doc got me excited about my own possibilities for life and reminded me to stick to my dreams.
Lesson: Risk looking like a lunatic to follow your dream when it’s rooted in joy and making life better for others. Surround yourself with passionate people who believe in your vision, and elevate them too. As Nimsdai says, “Even if it’s impossible for others, that doesn’t mean it’s impossible for you.”
#3. Free Solo
This film features US-based Alex Honnold, an introverted (now) 38yr old solo climber, living in a van, in a Walmart parking lot.
His dream is to be the first person to free solo El Capitan in Yosemite National Park, California. At first, Alex appears aloof and melancholy, yet highly disciplined and quietly determined.
We learn that his father had Asperger’s syndrome, and as a child, his mom never told him he had done well. Instead, she instilled the belief that ‘good wasn’t good enough.’ So, he got stuck in a bottomless pit of self-loathing. However, we also learn that Alex’s dad put effort into nurturing Alex’s climbing.
Slowly, as the film unfolds, we see Alex learn to express his emotions with his new girlfriend while rehearsing each step over and over again, before his solo climb.
He says, “ I face my fear because my goal demands it.”
Lesson: Our past does affect us, but it’s up to us to teach ourselves new ways of being and living. We decide what our goals are, and inevitably, face fear as we take steps to achieve them. By opening up to our emotions without letting them overtake us, we get to enjoy a rich inner life, personal relationships and our goals. But, if our goals take precedence we may miss out on true connection.
Have you seen any of these movies? Do my lessons resonate with you? If so, which one? Leave a comment below, I’d love to hear from you.
Until next month,
Shana Lee
P.S. Share this article as you feel inspired. 🙏