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T.H.U.R.S. #13
The Weather, Gratitude, Norquay
Gabriel Mira
October 31, 2024
Hola and welcome to The Summit, my biweekly newsletter where I share my unfiltered thoughts on navigating the peaks and valleys of adulthood.
My mission is to question everything, grow every day and have fun along the way. The Summit’s mission is to invite you to do the same.
Today: T.H.U.R.S. #13
Thoughts:
Something light:
The weather isn’t miserable, we are.
Before you jump to conclusions, I know the weather can get pretty crazy:
POV: waiting out a little snowstorm last week
But the message here is brilliant. Just because there isn’t sunshine and rainbows, doesn’t mean the weather is miserable - miserable is only a result of the emotion we attach to the weather.
To give an example, think of a grey and rainy day. Do you picture something like this:
like this:
Or like this:
Milford Sound in the RAIN
The weather is the same in all of them, but you cannot tell me Milford Sound looks miserable… some say it is most beautiful in the rain.
It is all a matter of perspective.
Something heavy:
I heard a part of a quote by Timothy Leary:
For every time you say club passwords like “Have a nice day” and “Weather’s awful today, eh?”, you yearn inside to say forbidden things like “Tell me something that makes you cry” or “What do you think deja vu is for?”. Face it, you even want to talk to that girl in the elevator. But what if that girl in the elevator (and the balding man who walks past your cubicle at work) are thinking the same thing? Who knows what you might learn from taking a chance on conversation with a stranger?
Escaping surface level conversations. I love it. It can feel so awkward to ask deep questions or start conversations with strangers, but the potential upside can be so rewarding.
I probably sound like I am talking out of my ass here, but I have actually set a little challenge for myself that I will share in the coming weeks…
A challenge that will test how much we can really learn from talking with strangers, because honestly, I believe that we can all learn something from one another. I am EXCITED!
Highlights:
My favourite thing I learnt this week: Four Laws of Behaviour Change - Atomic Habits.
I first read James Clear’s Atomic Habits years ago; and since then, I have found myself coming back to this book and its teachings repeatedly. Every time I plan to implement a new system, set new goals or even remove bad habits, I refer to Clear’s Four Laws of Behaviour Change:
Cue
Craving
Response
Reward
This week I wanted to implement a new morning routine (set of habits) so I thought I would share how I practically use this framework:
Starting off the day with sunlight/cold exposure:
Cue:
Alarm goes off in the morning with a notification: GET OUT THERE!
Craving:
Associate my morning routine with the feeling of energy and accomplishment it brings.
Response:
Getting out of bed and stepping outside.
Reward
Enjoy a post-workout meal or a relaxing shower.
Similarly, I am wanting to build the habit of drinking more water:
Cue:
Keep a water bottle with me at all times.
Craving:
Associate drinking water with feeling refreshed and hydrated.
Response:
Take a sip of water.
Reward:
Feel the positive physical effects of hydration, such as increased energy and physical performance.
Finally, as always, I am trying to minimise my screen time. So, I can also implement the framework as follows:
Cue:
Identify the specific triggers that lead to excessive screen time. For example, it might be boredom, stress, or a habit of checking your phone first thing in the morning.
Craving:
Acknowledge the desire for instant gratification and distraction that comes with screen time.
Response:
Replace the habit with a more mindful activity. This could be reading a book, going outside or talking to friends/family.
Reward:
Celebrate the increased productivity, improved focus, and better mental health that comes from reduced screen time.
If you haven’t already, I would 10/10 recommended reading Atomic Habits: a comprehensive, practical guide on how to change your habits and get 1% better every day.
Uplift:
Something uplifting that I stumbled across and want to share: the importance of gratitude.
The billionaire in his private jet who misses the old days.
The millionaire flying first class who wants to own a private jet.
The businessman in a fancy sports car dreaming of becoming a millionaire.
The employee in a cheap old car who wants a fancy sports car.
The unemployed cyclist who just wants a job and a cheap old car.
The pedestrian who wished he had a bike, so he didn’t have to walk everywhere.
The paralysed man in the wheelchair who would give everything to walk again.
All while the sick only wish to be healthy again…
You’ll never stop wanting more until you learn to be grateful for having things rather than getting them.
I think this is such a great and healthy reminder to be grateful for where you are and what you have.
e.g. I often find myself longing for different things. Longing to move somewhere new, longing to try something new or even just dreaming of being in someone else’s shoes. While this is normal, and I love dreaming, I don’t ever feel any satisfaction until I pause and reflect on how I grateful I am for everything I have now.
Reflect:
A question I asked myself this week:
❓️Why? Why do each thing in my day? Why do I go to the gym? Why do I go on a hike? Why do I scroll my phone? Why do I decide to go out drinking?
💁♂️ I have been asking myself ‘why’ about everything to try keep me aligned with my ‘personal mission’. I find that if I don’t consistently question my actions - it can be easy to slip into bad habits.
Summit:
A challenge I set myself: sunrise Ha Ling and Mt Norquay 🫡.
Almost as expected, to keep with the theme, my challenges of the week consisted of more mountains! Early in the week, a big group of us tackled Ha Ling for sunrise - which means starting in the dark at 6am. And believe me, 5am wake ups in -5 degree weather is becoming a huge challenge… here is a lil TikTok that captures the experience:
But the real challenge of the week was Mt Norquay:
Mt Norquay (in the winter)
Norquay has been on my mind for a while… it is the last mountain on my Banff hit list and taunts me every day! We knew the snow would make this difficult, but the conditions are only going to get worse, so out we went. After a steep slug to the top of the chairlift (yes this turns into a ski hill next week), we were met with a staff member who told us we were crazy - probably not the best sign.
Anyhow, we kept pushing, one step at a time until we reached:
Mum, Grandma, and any other worriers out there, you’d be happy to know that we (two wildy immature 20-something boys) made the call to turn around! The ground was slippery, the rocks were unstable, and there was a lovely little cliff down to the left… until next time 😓.
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