The path of life

Well, I was out all last week rock climbing at Lovers Leap, California.  In the process of getting my Rock II certification I realized a few things that relate to survivology.

1) Climbing mountains goes against the instinct to survive, when you are on a hanging belay at 160'+ you realize how fragile life really is, and you wonder why the hell do you keep putting it on the line like this. 

2) When you top out on the summit and set up the final belay the first question is answered.  It is because without risk there would be no reward and the greater the risk the the more sweet the reward in the end, even if they are not equally matched.  You can get the same view without the risk by walking to the top but without the journey it is just a cool view. 

3) Arriving at the destination without the journey is a waste of time.  To live life as a sheltered survivalist hiding in a bunker is a huge waste of the gift of life.  Why even bother to survive if life only holds more of the same?

4)  Consider that you have to get to the other side of the country and you have no time limit.  If you fly you get to the destination quickly and the journey is over with little gain except some frequent flier miles.  If you drive or better yet hitch-hike, you get to experience the journey, learn some lessons, meet some people and become intimate with the route and all the obstacles in the way.  The journey itself is the reward, so don't look for shortcuts.  The experience you gain on the path of life is the essence of survivology.

So pick a path, walk it true and pay attention to the things that make it an experience.  Use those lessons to better your situation and to build up your personal experience bank.  Analyze the experience and catalog the successes and failures to help you in future similar situations.  In order to survive tomorrow you must live today.