With about 9 total bags, we're on our way to Northern Canada! 🇨🇦 Ski bags, pulks, weapons and ammunition, took us more than one hour to complete check-in! Apparently, we have to pay extra for bringing so much on the flight 🤔😁
_
After bargaining the excess baggage fee down from €600 to €180, we could finally proceed through security, have a beer, and board our first flight connecting through Frankfurt.
______________________________
#canada #ski #northwesternpassage #arctic
#ad I spend a lot of time listening to music while I'm traveling, exercising or on expeditions. Until recently, I've never owned anything more than basic ear plugs.
_
For the past couple of weeks, I've tested @sudio Klar headphones, and they're awesome. Probably won't bring them on any expeditions, but they're great at the gym, or for strolling around the city! For winter expeditions, I go old school with $6 USD wired earplugs 😁
_
What kind of headphones do you prefer?
____________________________
#music #gives #me #energy
#sudio #sudiomoments
*Continuing the story from my previous post:
Once again, I'd proven to myself the importance of having various mental tools for keeping focus and staying motivated, even when the situation is strenuous and draining.
_
It was amazing to experience that when my body was in so much pain and fatigue, my spirit and morale became stronger than ever. It was a boost of energy, continuing in a positive spiral. You could say I gave myself a metaphorical pat on the back on frequent occasions, acknowledging even the tiniest achievements.
_
I would keep a rational account of everything that was suboptimal, painful or injured, then explain to myself, very specifically, why each thing wouldn't ruin the expedition, or how I could improve the situation. I'm an optimist at heart.
_
I also talk to myself, literally and out loud, which I find both humorous and effective. I'd take up the tastiest bar of chocolate from the day's food ration, and say something like "William, now we're gonna treat ourselves with a little luxury, yummy!!!" Usually, it makes me either laugh or smile, and with the active positive enforcement, I seem to enjoy the chocolate even more, and I get a boost of endorphins as a bonus.
_
My experience is that there's always a solution, even though there's not always a perfect solution. With an open mind-set, where the default setting is to look for solutions instead of focusing on the negative outcome of the problem, it's so much easier to overcome obstacles.
____________________________________
What I wish to convey, by sharing how I cope with struggles on expeditions, is not to prove how tough I am. That's not the point. I think so many people have the potential, but they just haven't learned how to access it yet. Either because they haven't found the tools to do so, or they haven't been exposed to situations where there's been no other alternative.
_
Trust yourself and have faith in your own abilities! Throw yourself at challenges. Be daring and harvest the amazing empowerment and self-realization after succeeding with a challenging project or task. If you fail, you learn from your mistakes and try again. That's it. Go for it! Don't give up ❤️
