By: Natasha Archary
Riky Rick’s mother, Louisa Zondo is using her Mount Everest trek to have a long conversation with her late son. Documenting her adventure up the Everest Base Camp, on her Instagram, Zondo is using the trek to process losing her son in February.
“I’m reflecting on life, death and the meaning of everything. Since your death last month, I’ve been starkly aware of the need in me to make sense of where I am and how I am called to be.
I decided to proceed with this trek to Mount Everest Base Camp not only because I knew you would want me to do so, but also because I imagined it would present the perfect opportunity, over 14 days, for me to wrestle with the questions – (i) What is the moment; and (ii) How does this moment call me to be.”
Riky Rick’s mom on her Mount Everest Trek
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Detailing how her son’s death has affected her and their family, Riky Rick’s mom said she was using her Everest adventure to seek answers as to how to deal with personal traumas.
In each of her posts on Instagram, Loiusa Zondo addressed her son, “MaRiky” as if it were her final conversation with him.
She shared that her son’s death caused deep shock, pain and sadness internationally, igniting wide-ranging discussion about depression and mental health illness.
“As I thought about the range of traumas which affect our mental health, I found myself reviewing ways in which society is experiencing collective traumas. Thoughts about violence of misogyny, racism, corruption, greed, poverty, inequality and other injustices brought darkness to my spirit. How do we become a society that provides all, young people in particular, access to means of transcending and therefore transforming trauma?”
Her journey brought her many moments where she felt reconnected to Riky Rick, as she recalled his enormous warmth with highlights of his life playing like a video reel as she walked.
“MaRiky, the breathtaking beauty of this mountain is laced by stark contrasts and contradictions of deeply-rooted hardship, toil and exploitation. Experiencing these reminds me of how your life continuously taught me to hold in awe, both the great joys of life and the devastating harms of our existence.”
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