For 21 days, I was tested to see how far I could push myself beyond my limits, whether it was swimming in the freezing cold water at 3 degrees in the morning, or seeing how long I could tolerate being in the bush by myself without losing my mind. These challenges tested my physical, mental, spiritual and social strength. While at Outward Bound, we were able to do amazing outdoor activities such as tramping, sailing and many others. There were 4 watches and I was a part of Sheppard watch and I met some of the most amazing people and created life long friendships.
Every morning, we would wake up at 6 am and take part in morning PT and finish off with a cold dip into the ocean. It was hard at first, but it got easier as I became mentally stronger and adapted to this new environment. The first scheme that my watch and I did was a 2 day tramp. This activity was quite challenging as I have never walked for 20 hours over the 2 days but also sleeping underneath a tarp that was not built to the conditions.
Spending 5 days outdoors was another challenge that I had overcome and this required more mental strength. This activity was split up into 2 and a half days of hiking on the Queen Charlotte Track and 2 and a half days of sailing the Marlborough Sound. The most difficult part of this scheme was the second day of tramping as our instructor changed the location we were walking to, making us hike even longer which took 15 hours. In total we walked around 70 kilometres. When we finally arrived at our destination, we sailed back to the Anakiwa. These experiences of hardship made me realise how far my mind and body can resist pain and discomfort.
Another great scheme that I took part in was the 3 days solo which was being alone in the bush with nothing but your mind. This activity showed me how powerful the mind is and how scary it can get by being with your thoughts.
One thing that I have learned from this trip is to appreciate the little things. While we were out and about, we had limited food and water, making us appreciate and savour every crumb that we had. As this moves onto coming back to reality, I have been appreciating nature for its beauty and its peace, looking deeper into trees acknowledging different colour leaves and bark. Outward Bound has taught me many life lessons such as the importance of routine, healthy eating and appreciating other people for who they are.
Confortare Esto Vir.
