How Organic Thought Was Started

It was a bout with salmonella and a near death trekking experience that lead to the creation of The Organic Thought Initiative. After graduating from UVic, University of Victoria, I went backpacking across South America. My first adventure was a trek deep into the remote Andean Mountains of Peru. I began the trek early morning with 3 other companions and we all anticipated arriving at base camp well before night fall. I felt slightly ill and lagged behind the group the entire morning but thought the fatigue effects would pass. The oxygen level was very low at 4000 ft and the terrain was rough but I carried on, patiently waiting for a full recovery.

Two hours into the trek my patience began to deteriorate. I had not recovered and my condition began to worsen. Then I suddenly felt a sharp pain piercing my gut. Each blow was followed by a severe drain in energy and fever-like symptoms. The bacteria was multiplying in my intestines and each bacterium was attacking my immune system. It was at this moment I understood full recovery was no longer possible and my condition was worsening rapidly. I continued forward, now hoping to simply notify my companions.

I expected my companions to be only a scream away, but each scream went unanswered. Each yelp only returned an echo and for each echo returned a more panicked yelp. I continued forward, ignoring the sharp intestinal pains and cold chills.With each step I came closer to safety but further from recovery as each step exhausted my immune system and used up much needed energy. And with patience and rest I came closer to recovery but further away from safety. I knew once the hot sun disappeared the mountain would become too cold for my t-shirt and hoody. Patience had already failed me once and I was not willing to risk another mistake. I continued to push forward without rest.

It was when I was completely exhausted when I came to a fork in the path. I was shocked and panic-stricken. My friend, a local trekking guide that I had mistakenly trusted, had misled me. I was told Base camp, the foot of the mountain where we were to spend the night, was a single clear path that would only take a 2 hour walk to reach. The actual trek was a 6-7 hour hike with multiple paths.

I made a quick decision and committed to the downhill path on the right. I now rushed with desperate urgency as I knew I would have to make up for lost time had I chosen the wrong path. I forced myself to run for an hour before I discovered I would have to make up for lost time. I had chosen the wrong path, worst of all the wrong path was now an uphill climb. I attempted to rush back but simply lost hope and dropped to the ground. I was being attacked on all levels. The parasitic bacteria sucked out all life, the scorching sun continued to burn and dehydrate, the mountain was defiant and suffocating, and the forest deceiving. It was clear neither the parasite nor Mother Nature was willing to show any mercy. I laid on the forest floor exhausted and awaiting for whatever was to come.

After six hours my chances of survival was appearing to be bleak. I remained stagnant and poisoned on the cold mountain floor. I was overwhelmed with the parasitic infection and the awful mountainous conditions. Completely discouraged I began to prepare for the worst and filmed a video of my last words. It was clear the cold dark Andean mountains was not a friendly place. It was shortly after the sun had gone down and all hope for survival had diminished when suddenly an elderly village couple emerged from the bushes. It was a shocking sight. It was no place for anyone to be.

I approached the couple. Since the sky was becoming darker by the minute and would soon become pitch black, the couple sprinted off after only a limited attempt to break the language barrier. I felt a deep sense of panic and rejection when the couple parted. I cut the couple off one more time and made another attempt to communicate. Acknowledging that an attempt to communicate was futile, the couple again politely sprinted off. I was devastated freightened. Without any expression, communication, or gesture, they seemed to abandon me. I was aware my only chance of survival was from the help of this couple, whether they wanted to give it or not.

Confused and desperate, I acted without any social regard. I began to trail the village couple despite the absence of an invitation. Integrity and humiliation was a small price to pay for life. I slowly fought hard for every step, hoping there was to be a much warmer welcome on the other side. The forest was dark now and the pace fast. I could not keep up but I managed to trail close enough that I did not loose sight of the couple. I pushed on slowly but attentively for two hours. They continued to sprint forth without a pause or any sign what their intentions may be. When we finally arrived to their home I was exhausted, running only on adrenaline, but even that was not enough. They seemed to enter a discussion in the local indigenous language of Quechua. I waited patiently. Finally it was clear they had made their decision. The man turned to me and took a good hard look. He was either surprised by the level humiliation that displayed or amazed by my commitment and effort. As he stood under the dim moonlight he simply pointed to the direction to his right and said a few words in Quechua. I was fortunate that he was pointing to the door of his mud-constructed hut and not the forest. I entered the home behind them and collapsed on the floor.

The next morning I awoke in the small poor village with a great value for life. It was this new value for life and the poor conditions of this village where I felt I developed a new level of compassion and a new level of commitment to improve the world for all life. It was this experience that motivated me to live off very little, work for equality, and find appreciation in all things. It was this experience that inspired me to start The organic Thought Initiative and make the world a better place.