Snowdonia — believe 'I can' and 'I will'

Hi all — my name is Priyaneet, and let me tell you why climbing Snowdonia was so special for me. I was born with a progressive, incurable, invisible, muscle-wasting and neurological disability called Charcot-Marie-Tooth Disease 4C. It is an umbrella of motor and sensory neuropathy, muscular dystrophy, a mild form of cerebral palsy, scoliosis, dystonia, dysarthria, poor balance and co-ordination, and a left disc bulge of the S1 nerve root in my lower lumbar. This never-ending list of conditions affects me in different ways on a daily basis, mainly the physical aspects of my life. Fatigue is a daily issue — my condition is unpredictable. I can have a great day full of energy, and the next be in bed all day, unable to independently care for myself.

Throughout my life I have never let my disability stop me from living and enjoying the life I want to lead. I face many challenges daily that people often take for granted — for example, putting on my socks. Yes, it sounds weird, but with my dystonia my joints stiffen and bending down becomes difficult. That's only one of my daily struggles, but having lived with my disability all my life, I have learnt what works for me.

For those of you who know me, I love a challenge. I always say that when you are out of your comfort zone is where a person learns the most. That is why I wanted to challenge myself physically and climb Snowdonia.

Early Sunday morning, I awoke to the sound of the stray peacock that has made its home in my garden (for a city girl, it is very rare to find peacocks in your back garden!). I was super excited for the day ahead — it felt surreal that in less than three hours I would be on an exciting and physically challenging adventure. I was hiking up the Llanberis route in Snowdonia, one of the most popular of the Snowdonia trails.

I had never hiked up a mountain before and did not know what to expect. I purposely never researched it on YouTube or Google. I wanted to go into this journey with an open mind. I didn't want to know how steep the pathways were. I didn't want to read about other hikers' experiences. I wanted no expectations. There is a saying — expectations can lead to disappointment — and for this journey I didn't want to build any negative thoughts from other people's experiences. I wanted to go in with an open mind and create my own experience and memories. And that is exactly what I did.

Before I even got to the mountain, I tackled the steepest hill I have ever walked. Each step felt like my knees were going to hit the floor; mountain bikers and hikers sped past me. But as I looked ahead I could see we were approaching the mountains — the start of the 'real' hiking journey. I was so glad I had baked those delicious chocolate brownies the night before; they sure did keep my energy levels up.

Each step I took, I felt the rain and wind gushing against my face. Each step felt more draining, but I was determined to continue — and the support of my brother and sisters encouraging me along the way gave me that extra push. Before I knew it, I had reached the halfway point of the route. What a beautiful view stood before me. Taking a deep breath and inhaling what felt like the most refreshing air ever, my whole body felt tingly. As I exhaled, I felt free. My shoulders released the biggest tension. I felt re-energised, light and happy — the feeling was unreal.

What was once a physical challenge for me has now moved into my comfort zone. There is a saying — the first time you do something new, it is always the hardest and most challenging. But if you have the determination, motivation and passion, you can achieve anything you want.

Throughout each stage of your life you will be faced with new challenges. At the time, you will feel you are not capable — because you lack the skills, knowledge or confidence. But if there is one lesson I learnt from this trip, it is to say 'YES'. If you really want to achieve something in life, you will.

Sometimes you may not see the journey ahead — but that doesn't matter. What matters is who you are on the journey with. Never give up. Believe 'I can' and 'I will'.