Happy, inspired holidays

Happy holidays everyone. Thank you for being part of this newsletter family. It means a great deal to me that you are reading, connecting, being here with me.

This season, it’s finally seemed like the specific loneliness cap of the covid years has been lifted. I’ve caught up with, or met, so many more people in the run up to the main holidays this year than I have for a long time. For a fairly introverted person like me, it was a big emotional effort, but so worth it.

I feel more connected and inspired than I did before, through meeting with the energy of others, learning new things, and hearing their ideas. I don’t always race towards social occasions because they don’t generally energise me. However the closer I listen to other people to learn from them, the more I feel enriched, even if I have to rest a while to rebalance.

I have a quirky personal tradition that I observe every holiday season. It’s watching a movie about Everest or about mountaineering in general, although I’m far from a mountaineer myself.

There’s no specific reason for the subject matter, just a love of the subject, witnessing the personal determination, strength and triumph of humans in astounding, wild places.

Today I watched Mountain Queen: The summits of Lhakpa Sherpa and it may be the greatest of all the Everest documentaries I’ve seen. I cannot recommend it highly enough, especially if you want to find some inspiration, courage or feel stronger and braver.

It’s the amazing story of Lhakpa Sherpa, a Nepalese woman and mother, who has reached the summit of Mount Everest many times, despite coping with extremely difficult life circumstances.

Lhakpa is my new heroine, which is not a term I throw around lightly.

As one man says in the documentary, “You give good energy to every woman in the world.”

She absolutely does.

I’m not going to spoil it for you, however, I’ll warn you that Lhakpa suffers greatly in her life. Yet, through it all, she never loses her courage or passion for Chomolungma (Everest) ‘Goddess Mother of the World’. Chomolungma renews her soul, she tells us, and she is deeply grateful for everything in her life, no matter how difficult it has been.

I’ve already printed this photo of Lhakpa to put on my wall, to remind me of her extraordinary courage and grace.

I have to tell you one thing: Lhakpa’s abuser summited Everest 9 times. Lhakpa, so far, has summited 10.

Now, just go watch her.

Wishing you a super, dooper relaxing and content holiday time. Please reach out in email if you are struggling or have questions you want to share in this online community. We all learn, and can be inspired by each other.

I look forward to another big year of connecting here.

Love to you,