Spending some time writing in my journal on this Christmas 2024 morning, I was looking back on the year. Years to me look like mountains. People refer to mountains in regards to obstacles or challenges. Every mountain has a peak. Life is a mountain range, and with each one conquered we grow and become stronger and more experienced. The mountain range of life has it’s flats in the valleys, crystal clear water to drink from and views of grandeur. The tops of those mountains is where we imagine being. We eventually come to that point when the uphill incline hits us. We can choose to wander around in those bottom flats and spend a life looking up. We can also choose to feel the increase of our heart rate as we begin to trek upward the gentle incline; thinking “Here we go. Let’s do this”. Oftentimes those upward inclines aren’t so bad in the beginning. Stride shortens and toes begin to dig in. Time begins to slow down, or speed up because we feel like we’re not getting anywhere. Regardless, once we make that commitment to ascend, we’re invested.
We see the top of the mountain. It’s a view unknown. For me, it’s curiosity that drives me. Not bragging rights or a box to check, but I’m curious what the view looks like from the top. As I write this I’m thinking about my first mountain I climbed in Colorado in high school. Hammer Peak was a booger. We had to use ice axes, crampons and ropes to ascend. I was scared, and young. Inexperienced. The view at the top was worth the effort invested. Fast forward to the mountains in Germany I’ve climbed. They literally took my breath away and the awe I felt looking back on where I came from and the great sense of accomplishment I felt was incomparable to anything else. The mountains in Interlaken, Switzerland don’t even seem real, but they are and they are breathtaking. Fast forward to Afghanistan and the summits I conquered in the Panjir Mountains. Breathtaking. They all have a likeness about them. I literally thought I was going to have a heart attack on my second climb in Afghanistan. I made it, though. That likeness is looking back and feeling that pride in myself. Also, no matter if it’s Germany, Colorado, Canada, Afghanistan, Peloponnese, they were all breathtaking and knowing our Creator, I was very grateful He had laid these opportunities of challenge to be victorious before me.
The mountain ranges have those peaks and valleys. In the valleys we reflect on the previous climb. We take mental notes, do an equipment check and upgrade our equipment, our minds, our souls and our physical being. I know there will continue to be peaks and valleys as I walk my path in life. I choose not to wander around in the bottoms, the flats, and avoid the challenge of the climb. What a boring way to live. I wanna see the other side of obstacles. I’ve experienced the wisdom and strength gained from overcoming them.
That’s my challenge every year. The obstacle of the year is unknown. I will meet new mountains I haven’t climbed. Taking a tactical pause to reflect on the ones I’ve conquered, I take inventory and dig my toes into the ground as I commit to the climb. Is it worth it? Has it been worth it? Even though I suck in the air, my legs get shaky, the ground gives away beneath my feet, I get scared, water is running low, I’m hungry, I force myself to stop, turn around and look at how far I’ve come. Only for a moment. If you look too long, however, the voices tell you to go back to safety. There is no safety in conquering oneself. Is it worth it? Every time.
“He who conquers fear conquers himself. “He who conquers himself conquers the world”” -Zeno
Merry Christmas and a very happy New Year!
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