5 Lessons on Living a Happy Life from Hiking in the Himalayas

Man's Mountains in the Himalayas

"Every moment is good for the person who holds the joy inside." ~ Horace Friess

This year I have heard the call to explore natural beauty in a different way. I enrolled in a hiking in the Himalayas.

I would then live in camps and guesthouses, away from any communication or technology, and be far away from almost everyone. I would not have a shower or “normal” toilets, and I would live a different life for a while when very few resources were available.

My heart is full of gratitude for what I have received in those two weeks there. Not only did I meet some nice people in my travel group, but I also got in touch with local people who opened my eyes.

I reconnected with the definition of true happiness.

The simplicity of their way of life made me wonder about my needs.

The kindness of their hearts made me realize that we are truly connected and able to share, even if we don’t have much about ourselves.

Their strength in the face of adverse weather conditions made me realize that I too have the strength to stand firm, and that I can overcome any obstacle in my life.

Today I want to share with you five important lessons I learned while I was there so that you too can live a happy life.

1. Simplicity increases.

The less you have, the less anxious you are and the more you appreciate what you have.

While living in guesthouses, I did not view the local people as poor.

The fact is, they had limited resources and spent most of their time in the cold weather, eating the harvesters, and always harvesting their fields, tending their cattle, and living a simple life with what they needed.

But they are happy. You can feel the inner peace that is not on the busy streets of London, where we have to have "everything." I believe that when there is little to choose from, there is much to do.

2. Love is all around us.

When we open our hearts to the truth and see love, it is much easier to see unselfish acts of kindness. In the Himalayas, helpless people help you cross the river. People get help if you stick to the middle of the mountain.

It can be easy to see when you are away from the roar of the city, but random acts of kindness are everywhere when you start to pay attention. You could see someone handing a seat to someone on the bus, or opening the door when it was full.

You may also want to start thinking about how you can be kind to others or perhaps acknowledge the kindness that has been shown to you over and over again. Kindness leads to happiness. The more you accept help from others, and the more you give help to people in need, the more kindness and happiness you will experience in your life.

3. You do not need wings to fly.

Where am I going? Fly to achieve your dreams, feel connected to the opportunity to achieve something you really want.

Where there is an obstacle, but there is enough will and persistence and he believes in you unconditionally, you can really fly and reach the stars. It all starts with confidence.

When I began to believe that I was strong and could actually climb mountains and go farther than I originally thought, things became possible. Of course, the belief did not make me an expert rider in one night, but it did allow me to take the opportunity to continue learning and growing.

So, my question is: What do you want to achieve? Start believing in yourself first and everything else will follow.

4. Don't keep expectations.

Several things did not go well for my trip. For example, we ended up hiking in the mountains for a few days longer than we had originally planned because the weather changed so suddenly, and this caused several delays, which affected our route. Now I feel like it was more of a blessing than a curse.

It has allowed me to get used to living for now and to avoid disappointment.

There will always be situations where things do not go to planning or out of your control. Adhering to your expectations brings anxiety, suffering, and unnecessary drama. If you live in the present, you allow yourself to flow unexpectedly and learn from this situation.

By being fully present and not relying on my expectations, I have been able to enjoy myself and immerse myself in it rather than cling to negative emotions. I had more time to think about the things that were important to me while I waited for the rain to stop. Instead of feeling discouraged, I asked myself: 'What can I learn from this?

On this trip, I also discovered that I loved hiking - and, instead of seeing the unfavorable weather as a bit unfavorable, it eventually became an encouragement to start hiking in many mountains when I returned to the UK.

5. Life is short. Live now.

When we leave our normal environment, especially when we go on vacation, away from our routine, many questions arise. What do I do with my life? What do I really want?

To me, being in nature is like being in a state of meditation. I find time to meditate and to consider where my life is headed.

And I know that life is short. We don’t know how long we will be on this planet, so each time I remind myself of the things I really want to do before I die, and I plan to make them happen. Don't wait for the future; it may not come.

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Happiness is not something you can imagine, but you can feel it by sharing your heart with others. We can improve our lives with simple things like walking in nature, meeting the hearts of relatives, or staying in the moment and learning from the things that can go wrong.

I know I will go many ways in this life. Life is a journey of discovery. With each step we take we learn new things and grow. That growth is what brings real purpose and happiness to our lives.