Reaching the Summit

August 26, 2025 - After pressing forward, in spite of fatigue, sore feet, and thousands of steps (11,198 to be exact!) I made it to the top, toured the cave, and hiked back down. It was indeed a hike, with many rest stops along the way. But well worth the effort.

As I found the various signs along the way, I was constantly reminded that my small adventure was a metaphor for life. Every endeavor we experience will have similar steps, challenges, and lessons along the way. How, then, can we apply these lessons in other experiences throughout life?

1. Be alert of everything around you. Not just to be safe, although that is part of it, but to see the seemingly small, yet important, lessons in the everyday experiences.

2. Don't compare yourself to anyone else. Among the people who passed me on the way up were men and women in the 80s, and even a mom with an infant and small children!

3. Just because you "summit" doesn't mean you have to go beyond that the next time around. When I returned to the trail the week after I had achieved my goal, I only went 3/4 of the way up. And I was totally okay with that.

4. Recognize that the rewards for achieving a goal are multi-faceted. For me this included better health, a desire to be out in nature more, and making new friends along the way.

5. Let one such achievement motivate you to try another experiences. Always wanted to watercolor or audition for your local theater group? Go for it! Confidence learned in one area can easily transfer to another.