Cliff peaks or sea freaks?

“The mountains are calling, and I must go.”

John Muir once said. One of those quotes that really resonates with me. Have you ever gotten that feeling? You’re having just a regular day, sitting in the office, or having a coffee while working on a project, maybe cooking or doing some laundry, and then — bam! — something inside starts tugging. It’s kinda an invisible rope pulling you out of your routine, whispering (or even yelling), “Get up! I am waiting for you, tic tac, tic tac”.

It’s a persistent kind of call, buzzing incrementally.

Doesn’t matter what you’re doing — getting bored at another pointless zoom call, exploring new capabilities of AI, watching new tiktoks or next trendy Netflix series there’s this voice in the back of your mind getting louder and louder. It won’t let you go until the only things you can dream about are majestic snow-capped ridges, sharp forms, and breathtaking landscapes. Then, you realize it: “Oh, it’s the mountains.”

You could be a beach aficionado, always daydreaming about sea shores, refreshing margarita ( or are you Pina colada lover or maybe beer ambassador? 😄), golden hour and crystal waters. But let me assure you, when the mountains call, it’s a whole different vibe. The sea might tempt you with its shimmering waves that enshroud subtly. But the mountains? They don’t coax or woo. They demand. They dare you to come closer.

What really makes mountains so special, you might ask? Maybe it’s their silent arrogance, the way they stand confident & imperishable, telling you, “I’ve been here for millions of years, and I’ll be here for a few million more. And what have you done?” 😄

The sea’s out there crashing around, trying to impress you but the mountains don’t even bother. They just are. Without any showing off. Just being steady, being present. Unyielding.

Being in the mountains feels different, too. It’s not a day-to-day experience (unless you are a porter?) You don’t just stroll into a cliff range like, “Hey, I’m here to chill”. Nope, the mountains require effort, respect, serious legwork and resilience and much more.. For sure you can take a cable car to get to the peak and catch breathtaking landscape, but this is another story 😊 And with every step you take a steep incline, you feel more alive and different? With every step forward, the amount of your thoughts start decreasing, you don’t care anymore if you were too straight-forward with your colleague on his work, or maybe you should loose 2 kilos, or maybe its a good time to paint the walls again.. No, your thoughts are deeper now, searching existential meanings and reflecting on your life. It’s as if the higher you go, the less baggage you’re carrying — throwing away the stuff you don’t want to carry on in your head anymore. Each rock — minus useless thought, each step clearing your mind. And the views! They’re not just breathtaking; they keep reminding you that your daily concerns are, well, kind of tiny.

Sea? Yes, it has its meditative and soothing vibes, it can cuddle you gently. The sea is constantly in motion — roughening, swirling, and generally doing a lot to keep your attention. Dynamic & roaring energy. The mountains? Ohh, they’re a different breed. Their energy is still, solid and that’s exactly why it’s so powerful and charming. For me it’s like plugging myself into a massive firm battery that’s been charging forever?! You stand there, breathing that crisp & tingling air, and suddenly you’re recharged, rejuvenated and reborn.

So, why do I choose mountains over and over again? Maybe because they don’t pamper or playing ball with me. They challenge. They offer new experience that makes you push harder and come out a little stronger. It is about transformation. You come to the mountains as one person, and come out different. Sometimes it can be a slight touch of change, in other cases it can be a sudden complete transformation. You don’t choose mountains, the choose you, they decide if they wanna open their “face” to you or you gonna be “pleased” only by foggy views, they demand your respect. The sea otherwise will lull you into a nap with its lazy waves. The sea can be also very unpredictable especially if you are an open& boat lover, who is keen to face the storms, then sea doesn’t forgive any mistakes neither, water element, take it or leave it.

When the mountains call, it’s not just an invitation — it’s a command. And once you’ve answered it, there’s no turning back. After all, the sea may be charming, but the mountains? They’re unforgettable.

And where are you in this battle? Sea freak or cliff peak? 😝

P.S. and yes sometimes, I also need some soothing sea, and I am absolutely charmed by undersea world and snorkeling. 🏊‍♀ But it’s only for a day or two, and ideally after a decent hiking 😆