Poli Poli

Poli! Poli! Swahili for Slow! Slow!

Poli is the new word I learned on the Colorado Mountain Club hike to Lizard Rock near the Lost Creek wilderness area last Saturday. It was a five-mile hike uphill to lizard rock and back. Much of the hike was in the hot sun. I wondered if I could do this hike after my chemotherapy. I am slowly getting stronger, but I am still pretty weak. I worried that I might be holding others back by needing to rest and by going so slow. I struggled to trudge forward in the heat. Then came the encouraging words, "Poli! Poli!" from Harry Vulgamore, leader of the hike, and his wife, Caroline. They explained that those are the Swahili words spoken by the guides for climbers of Kilimanjaro. Americans often want to race up this enormous mountain. People can not go very far at the high altitude when they start out fast. That is why the guides say Poli! Poli! They want people to be able to successfully climb the mountain.

Seeing my difficulty, and, thankfully, not mentioning it, Harry and Caroline suggested a rest stop on a ridge. We all stopped. Harry was determined to keep his group together. We thought we might have to turn around. I rested and ate my dark chocolate gluco-support bar. Amazingly, I began to feel better. I realized I could hike further. We kept going. It was now a little cooler. We all made it to the top, right at Lizard Rock. We saw beautiful views. I learned I COULD do this. I AM RECOVERING! I also learned, once again, that it makes a lot of difference to have a little help and encouragement from friends. I learned that "Poli Poli" is the way to go. The tortoise not the hare.

Poli Poli That is the way I build my stamina. Poli Poli That is the way I rebuild my private practice in psychology. Poli Poli That is the way I catch up on correspondence and clutter. Poli Poli Life is good. I am climbing the new mountains of my life after a malignant brain tumor.