Last week I watched a very interesting film called [url=http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00020X94W/bujinkanmartia0b/]Touching the Void[/url]. This “docu-drama” presents the story of two young adventurers (Joe Simpson and Simon Yates) who set out to conquer the unclimbed face of Siula Grande in Peru in the mid 80s. During the team’s descent, Yates breaks his leg. The story that follows that event is at once tense, frightening and amazing.

I won’t give the details because I suggest you check it out for yourself, but I will say that it’s an amazing story that makes me wonder about the limits of the human body, mind and spirit. What makes some people push themselves to incredible lengths when others would just give up regardless of the consequences? As you ask yourself this question, you are really asking “What would I do in these circumstances and would I survive?” Although one’s physical condition certainly plays an important role in answering that, I think it ultimately comes down to the mental and emotional state and some “inner drive” that apparently exists beyond the conscious mind. I believe that this will to survive is an unconscious trait because survivors of tragic events will often say that they acted without thought while in a state of shock or while mentally incapacitated.

In any case, I highly recommend Touching the Void. On a related note, have you seen the Discovery Channel’s “Welcome to BUDS” documentary about the training of Navy SEALs? I think watching this will also serve to back up my point.