Mickey had been born and bred on books, movies and television all his childhood. His early yearnings were full of passion for mystery, adventure and romance. As Mickey grew he observed that people who supported his adventurous acts were the ones who were outlawed by his family or society as “BAD INFLUENCE”.
As years pass by, the grown up Mickey has become a mouse at heart. Mickey has now learnt to hide behind a façade to cover-up all the above aspiration (labelled as “foolish”). The regular censure of his childhood exploratory attitude has reduced his adventure spirit and now reflects as a real fear of the unknown.
Once, Mickey chanced upon a post in the newspaper for a trek to “Great Himalayan National Park”. The child within fires ups his imagination and he is keen for the idea. Yet the fear of unknown is now deeply ingrained in his brain. With a gentle nudging by his childhood yearning, Mickey musters up the courage to call upon the advertiser and find out details. The more he listens about the place, the more he gets fired up. Knowing from experience that such moves seldom find approval of close ones, after a very long deliberation, he chooses to assert himself. To his pleasant surprise, he finds that close ones agree to his plan with what he sees as “no struggle”. What he failed to recognize was his own adult status (capable of sound decisions) that others comprehended from his unconscious signals.
Having conquered his first fear, Mickey is all gung-ho as he signs himself for the trek. His small fears of walking on uneven trails or into a hostile weather are assuaged by the advice of the trek leader that sees him buy appropriate gear before the event day. Armed thus he is more secure & comforted. On the trail as he crosses the boundaries of all forms of civilized society, Mickey is about to spend his first night in the company of only a handful trekkers and an entire life form of wild. Inside, Mickey is ecstatic and afraid at the same time. Years of culturing has taken its toll and Mickey can hear several voices from past warning him of walking into danger. On the outside, thanks to the company of fellow trekkers Mickey professes courage that finds him doing all the unusual chores of wild like collecting firewood, sitting, chatting, wandering, playing and sipping tea in the open around the campfire. His mind is full of wonder at the splendid sight that beholds him in the wild. The tiredness of limbs owing to long arduous trek fades into oblivion in the presence of such overwhelming glory of Mother Nature. Soon it is time to retire for the night. Mickey can see and sense that it is pitch dark and very cold outside the tent. He is aware that several wild animals lurk around these mountains. He realizes that he still feels powerful and not afraid! He senses that in this modern era animals are more wary of humans and tend to avoid contact. Thus the presence of fire and light is synonym with human beings that makes Mickey feel as a powerful human being. As Mickey prepares to sleep, mentally his vision of the trek reminds him and he is full of admiration for mankind’s superior brain that has ensured adaptability and survival in such harsh and a hostile environment.
Early next morning, Mickey is a changed man. He is in high spirits and full of zest to explore further. Several of his reasons for fear have now become exposed as myths. His childhood zeal has retuned with a vengeance thus making him more active and driven. Soon after, it is time for the trek to end. Mickey is in rapture over the entire ordeal. As he returns back to civilization, others find in Mickey a changed person. More passionate and energetic, Mickey is feisty in all his actions. Mickey himself feels the change. He finds it easier to face his fears within the society. Every fear reminds him that unless it is challenged it cannot be exposed as a myth. Mickey is no more the mouse; instead he is the Mickey MAN who insists on trekking whenever he gets the opportunity!
No comments:
Post a Comment