pacing, partners, and patience: lessons from the wadi

All of our duffels and backpacks were packed onto the camels, we’d be reunited with them in the Secret Garden Mountain Lodge in Saint Katherine in just a few short hours. That first day hike giving all of us a chance to get to know each other as we matched pace and shared introductions, life stories, and why we’re each here. A question I truly love to ask & hear: knowing everyone’s journey is unique but so much of our reasons for being here are the same.

It wasn’t a question of whether I would join the Sinai Mountain Challenge, as soon as I heard about it I was in. One thing I love just as much as being outside are community initiatives and watching WadiIbex introduce so many of our people to this beautiful sport was inspiring. I realized that everything I had decided to personally pursue was mostly in a bubble: decisions made based on my own research, online inspirations, and what felt right given my skills at each point in time. I’d never had that community when I started out and still struggle to find it myself today. One mountaineer shared stories about another climber, how they were buddies and spent years traveling and tagging 8000 meter peaks. I’d wonder how much farther I can go if I had a buddy and how much of a miracle it is that God still made me bullish enough to pursue all of these things anyways.

I reached the summit of our first peak at 7 am and watched the sunrise, I was focused on my hike up and jog down until I found myself in the middle of the Wadi with a group of others and we scrambled together to reach our next destination. It was company I didn’t realize I needed - the support, motivation, and encouragement helped. Others at the same level that were just as determined, confident, and passionate about this goal as I was. It pushed me to move faster than I thought I could move - and it was only when I found myself alone on the final peak that I realized how much these people helped propel me forward. And how much I wish I had them now.

I’m an introvert - a classic INTJ - as much as I intrinsically want to fall into my solo habits I know that having buddies, a partner in crime, and a group of people is so important. A very cliche reminder that “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.” While pursuing these peaks or in building a business, the people you surround yourself with matters. I was lucky enough to sit near one of the race organizers on our drive back to Cairo, I asked him about his entrepreneurial journey and advice he has in building a team. One of the guiding principles he shared in any venture is to always pick the partner before picking the journey. A concept that resonated with me even though my pursuits ended up being quite the opposite…starting the journey and looking for partners along the way. But now more than ever I’ve been feeling that I no longer want to lead but to also follow. To be in a place of receiving just as much as I’ve been giving. To practice patience, reliance, and to leave things out of my control to people I can trust around me. I’m making changes to my world & mindset to bring this vision to life and learned to accept that it may come with faults and it may take time. But I’ve seen and imagined how beautiful it is on the other side, and I’ve never been more ready for this next chapter to unfold.