About the book
Before the Empress from Michele Mattingly on Vimeo.
Before the Empress: Messages from Mount Kilimanjaro by Michele Mattingly is the heartfelt story of one woman’s quest to take control of her life by climbing the tallest peak in Africa.
Mount Kilimanjaro became “The Empress” when Mattingly misheard the lyrics to the pop song "Africa" in 1983. “…sure as Kilimanjaro rises like Olympus" sounded like "an Empress’” to her. “The Empress” became forever a part of her psyche.
Before the Empress details Mattingly’s many months of preparation, the climb itself, and the personal transformation that resulted. Researching everything from hiking boots to vaccines, spending hours on a treadmill and hiking through California’s national parks, forests and mountains, she discovered that nothing could have prepared her for the harsh realities of altitude sickness.
“Fatigue, muscle strain and vomiting the first two days, all I wanted to do was go home. But something inside refused to give in. One more day. I kept thinking; I can do one more day…”
Anxiety, insecurity fear and doubt slowly faded and the voice of the Empress came through. She reached the summit in November 2016 at age 58. The author says the Empress spoke to her at a time when she really needed to reboot her life.
“Kilimanjaro is more than a mountain—she is an idea. Representing the cradle of civilization, she takes us back to root of our humanity. The beginnings of life. While she is the first of the seven highest mountains in the world, she is still accessible to most people, pushing you to exceed your self-imposed limitations. Throughout the course of the climb you come to realize, the real summit is within.”
When she returned home, Mattingly spent a year processing her journal entries and photos and ultimately writing the book. She takes time to remind us that leaving our comfort zone is the surest way to spark change.
“It is so easy to spend our days on autopilot, and most of us do. We take the same route to work, shop at the same stores, watch the same television. But when you up-end your routine and find yourself in a foreign country having an experience unlike anything else you have ever done, all bets are off. You become aware and alive in a way you seem to have forgotten. You begin to lose your prejudices and rethink your attitudes. Meaning, purpose and hard questions emerge. And you may rediscover who you were meant to be. “
Before the Empress: Messages from Mount Kilimanjaro is for those who long to make significant changes in their lives—at any age. It is for those who wonder what is possible for themselves and for those who dare to dream.
“I hope this story will inspire people to take chances, bounce back from adversity, and search for the real meaning in their lives. You don’t have to climb Mount Kilimanjaro, but if we want to be more than we are, we must all take a journey. Whatever path you take, remember that we are all wasafiri—travelers, though this adventure we call life. Journey on.”
Mount Kilimanjaro became “The Empress” when Mattingly misheard the lyrics to the pop song "Africa" in 1983. “…sure as Kilimanjaro rises like Olympus" sounded like "an Empress’” to her. “The Empress” became forever a part of her psyche.
Before the Empress details Mattingly’s many months of preparation, the climb itself, and the personal transformation that resulted. Researching everything from hiking boots to vaccines, spending hours on a treadmill and hiking through California’s national parks, forests and mountains, she discovered that nothing could have prepared her for the harsh realities of altitude sickness.
“Fatigue, muscle strain and vomiting the first two days, all I wanted to do was go home. But something inside refused to give in. One more day. I kept thinking; I can do one more day…”
Anxiety, insecurity fear and doubt slowly faded and the voice of the Empress came through. She reached the summit in November 2016 at age 58. The author says the Empress spoke to her at a time when she really needed to reboot her life.
“Kilimanjaro is more than a mountain—she is an idea. Representing the cradle of civilization, she takes us back to root of our humanity. The beginnings of life. While she is the first of the seven highest mountains in the world, she is still accessible to most people, pushing you to exceed your self-imposed limitations. Throughout the course of the climb you come to realize, the real summit is within.”
When she returned home, Mattingly spent a year processing her journal entries and photos and ultimately writing the book. She takes time to remind us that leaving our comfort zone is the surest way to spark change.
“It is so easy to spend our days on autopilot, and most of us do. We take the same route to work, shop at the same stores, watch the same television. But when you up-end your routine and find yourself in a foreign country having an experience unlike anything else you have ever done, all bets are off. You become aware and alive in a way you seem to have forgotten. You begin to lose your prejudices and rethink your attitudes. Meaning, purpose and hard questions emerge. And you may rediscover who you were meant to be. “
Before the Empress: Messages from Mount Kilimanjaro is for those who long to make significant changes in their lives—at any age. It is for those who wonder what is possible for themselves and for those who dare to dream.
“I hope this story will inspire people to take chances, bounce back from adversity, and search for the real meaning in their lives. You don’t have to climb Mount Kilimanjaro, but if we want to be more than we are, we must all take a journey. Whatever path you take, remember that we are all wasafiri—travelers, though this adventure we call life. Journey on.”
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Before the Empress: Messages from Mount Kilimanjaro by Michele Mattingly
ISBN 978-1684562107 (paperback) ISBN 978-1645441700 (hardback) Are you in a book group? Download the discussion questions. |
