“Umunhum” the word at the first glance looks like the gibberish as a result of a kid playing with the keyboard. But it is a “Native American” word and has a very evocative meaning. It means a “place hummingbirds rest”. I couldn't have come across this at a more appropriate point in my life.
I was burnt out, joyless and feeling lost with few doctors even terming it “adrenalin fatigue”. It was strange for me to hear that term, the restless soul that I am, I get fatigued with pure leisure . After some introspection, I realised that it wasn’t so much of the work that was hurting me, it was futileness of many endeavours and the sense of betrayal that always accompanies with that. To give you a context I am an entrepreneur (some say, serial entrepreneur, but that only means one didn't succeed enough) in India and an outlier in many ways. This post though isn’t about those endeavours; They merit a separate post or maybe a book.
As I said, the sense of futility comes from betrayals both personal and systematic. I have had more than a fair share and my back is riddled with stab wounds of longish swords to that of tiny knives, the kind that dangles from nail cutters. Friends with good intentions and many of healing literature suggested practicing gratitude. How does one practice gratitude when all you can feel is a betrayal? What I stumbled on instead is “umunhum” quite literally and figuratively. First started with expanses of Connecticut farmlands and then the Quicksilver trails of San Jose.
I walked all I could, thinking, brooding, meandering, whatever left of the time, I worked with a single-minded focus with minimum external contact. By the time I reached the peak of Mt Umunhum ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Umunhum) I could see a small glimpse of my original self-peeking back. The natural bliss of well “Nature” was pushing me out of the dark corners.
Well, healing is not quite equal to being fighting fit, but a sign today convinced me that I am ready. On one of those peaceful trails (Virl O Norton trail) and to the surprise of many longtimers I spoke later, I encountered a mountain lion.
My first instinct was to freeze, which was reciprocated by the Lion. Next, I remembered the safety guide which says you need to make yourselves appear bigger (Remember the scene from “gods must be crazy” ?).
But the guide also says, don't bend to pick up, so I lifted both my hands as in surrender and tried making silly sounds. The lion is still not reacting and staring at me, which is surprising as they are supposed to be skittish animals that avoid human contact. The next thing I did was, to take my mobile out and click a picture of it, which is probably a very stupid thing to do (well at least I didn't do a selfie:-). After that I followed the safety guidelines to the T, slowly walked back while keeping the eye contact intact and as soon as it disappeared from the sight, picked up a huge stick.
Then I walked briskly back to the exit area thanking my luck.
Once I reached home, it struck me that this was just a day before Durga Pooja and during the auspicious period of Navarathri. For uninitiated Lion (Indian one) is the vehicle or mount of Durga who is the goddess of valor. Brain (mind) does need these crutches of symbolism sometime and I will gladly lean on them this time.
I think I am ready for my next dose of Adrenalin.
(This is an unusual style for me to write more poetic than I like, but the times call for it.
p:s: Last year was unique in dangerous animal encounters, a few months before this Lion encounter, I had a snake fall just a few inches from me as I sat meditating under a tree in Bangalore)
