Edith Yeung

In 2003, I took a short trip with my friends to Peru and climbed the famous Machu Picchu (the Lost City of the Incas) through the Inca Trail.

It was an amazing journey and one of the most memorable hikes in my life. It took us four days (about 88 km) to hike from the Urubamba River to Machu Picchu. Carrying a twenty pound backpack for four days straight was an experience in itself, let alone the high altitude and long distance. Some of us had trouble breathing when we got to the highest point of 14,000 feet. I would never forget the scene when a line of hundreds of hikers scrawling up the mountain. Every single step required 5 seconds of deep breath before the next step up. It was very strenuous but extremely satisfying experience.

The best part of the trip was the last day when we were all awake by 4:00 a.m. in the morning and started our hike in the dark. It was absolutely pitch black. I could only see three or four steps before me with my little flashlight. I remembered the long line of flash lights formed into a long snake of light. As we slowly climbed up the mountain, this snake of light weaved through the valley and switch backs on the mountain. It was beautiful.

After a couple of hours of walking through the dark, we finally arrived at the mountain top when the sun broke through the cloud. Some of us started running as we wanted to catch a glimpse of Machu Picchu before sunrise. The view was absolutely breath-taking. It made me realized what living a dream felt like; a feeling of extreme fulfillment and joy; a feeling of satisfaction and realization of achievement of a worthy goal.

That is the kind of moment when life truly takes your breath away and makes you realize what you are here for. That is the kind of moment when you realize what life is really all about and makes you appreciate every bit of sweat and hardship along the way. That is the kind of moment when you know there is more to life than all the aimless meetings, hectic conference calls and endless e-mails.

What is your dream? What do you really want for yourself?

• If time or money was not an issue, what would you do?

• If practicality was not an issue, what would you do?

• If friends or family opinions of you were not an issue, what would you do?

• If you know you could not fail, what would you do?

• If you know you could be whatever you want to become, what would you do?

No one can tell you what your dream is except you. Deep inside, there is a presense and desire to do something you truly want. Ask yourself these questions… then listen.

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