Мой первый журнал SUNRISE November № 1 2018 | Page 22

PHILOSOPHY The Synonym for “Paradise” Joanna Czestochowa (Poland) Poland is a country divided into three geographical parts: lowlands, highlands and mountains. The last one consists of the three m o u n ta i n r a n g e s : t h e Ś w i ę to k r z y s k i e Mountains, the Carpathians and the Sudeten. The Tatras are the highest mountains in Poland and are the part of the Carpathians. The highest and, in my opinion, the most beautiful and charming place here. “Love at first sight?” you ask. No. At first I disliked how sharp and threatening they looked, being used to the gentle and green hills of the Beskids, another part of the Carpathians. But when I had my very first trip deep into this mysterious and new “world” of fauna and flora I completely lost my head for it. The Tatra Mountains are visited by 3,5 mln of tourists per annum and it`s not surprising as this place truly imparadises. My love started in 2013 and it keeps growing every year when I come back to the place where I left my heart. People say they love the Tatras for the way they make them feel. That's exactly so. The magical moment comes on your crossing the line of the Tatra National Park. There you are taken into another world. The world where there're no problems of everyday life, there's no hatred between people, no worries about the future, no limits of yourself. There is only “here” and “now”. The trial, the sun, the adventure. To me the Tatras are the only place where I can truly rest. "How come?" you ask. You have to walk a long distance and climb the highest, absolutely weary, sweaty and weak. “Nothing to be on cloud nine”, you say but still there's a weird power, satisfaction, freedom, pure bliss and serenity. After a whole-day trip I come back fatigued but in high spirits. On the top you realize that you are ultrasmall in comparison with the whole universe. You start feeling submissiveness and are overwhelmed by the surrounding beauty that the cat gets your tongue. No doubt someone can object, "I have an acrophobia, I can't climb". Here we go. I invite you to direct your steps to the charming and undemanding valleys like Kościeliska Valley, Białego Valley or Strążyska Valley. The views, the freshness of the swift-flowing streams, the closeness of nature and wild animals make you forget where you come from, where you work, what your name is...(joke) Nevertheless it`s just like a therapy and I find a close connection with one of the English proverbs: “an apple a day keeps the doctor away”. The Tatras (at least once a year) do the same thing. Mountains are the best teacher. They teach you that impossible 21 SUNRISE can become possible. You only have to believe. As a believer you wander from the gloomy and cloudy valley to the warm and sunny peak, above the clouds level. You reach the peaks you may have never thought of. They will teach you humility too. The fact is you can climb any mountain but without humility you'd better stay lowland. The mountains are beautiful and can double what you`ve given to reach them but they are unpredictable too. The weather can change at any moment, from hot summer to cold autumn and nothing can be taken for granted. Finally, mountains teach you the truth. They help you to get to know the real nature of yourself as a human being better and gain the perspective of life. That can only be shown in the extreme conditions of the trail, the weather, the time and the presence of another human. In the song “Shotgun” by George Ezra there are the following lines: “There's a mountain top that I'm dreaming of, if you need me you know where I'll be”. These are the dreams and that's where I would love to be as often as I could. There are still a number of new places to hike, so many trails to walk, so many peaks to reach but even if I come back to the same place more than once, I experience the feeling of amazement and admiration because there are no same views. Each moment is different and is like a treasure to the one who can certainly value this. Come and see for youself! Joanna`s email: [email protected] November 2018 №1