| For many years of my life, I was very active in the | | | | wanes, it isn't uncommon to keep working and |
| Boy Scouts of America. Over the years of my | | | | progressing if only to please your partner. A partner |
| Scouting experience, I have had the opportunity to | | | | keeps you accountable for your progress. They help |
| go on many outdoor activities, such as campouts, | | | | to share the stress or the worry. They give input |
| hikes, river rafting trips, and others. One a few | | | | and offer suggestions. They encourage and support, |
| occasions, we actually climbed some of the | | | | motivate and reward. It is never a bad idea to have |
| mountains in the Pacific Northwest. During these trips, | | | | your own 'climbing partner', even if it's just someone |
| I learned a great deal about myself and others. Most | | | | who knows what your goal is. Don't keep your goals |
| importantly, I learned something about | | | | a complete secret! Find others to help you and |
| accomplishment - it is no small task to climb a | | | | motivate you and you will find that the goal is more |
| mountain. As I look back on those experiences later | | | | easily accomplished. |
| in life, I see that those lessons learned while climbing | | | | Difficulty and Changing Terrain |
| mountains are the lessons we all need to learn to | | | | One of the unique aspects of a mountain is that it |
| reach our dreams and to overcome our personal | | | | might have many different types of terrain and |
| challenges. | | | | different climates. As you climb, some areas are |
| Begin with a Plan | | | | steeper than others, some areas colder, some hotter. |
| The simple fact is that no one climbs a mountain on | | | | Changes in weather can make a simple stretch of |
| accident. It is always, under every circumstance, a | | | | path into a serious difficulty. Between the base of |
| conscious choice. Likewise, no significant | | | | the mountain and the summit, there is a variety of |
| accomplishment in life is reached without the decision | | | | change and challenge. |
| to achieve. Like hills and mountains, some | | | | As we work towards our goals, we also find that the |
| accomplishments are great and others small, but the | | | | terrain changes, becomes more difficult. Sometimes |
| important thing is that we choose to climb them. | | | | our growth comes slower than we had hoped, |
| Once we set out to climb a mountain, the wise | | | | requires more work, more time, more energy. |
| climber makes a plan. Some approaches will be easier | | | | Sometimes, events around us create a climate of |
| than others. Some will be more difficult, even | | | | stress, making even pleasant activities a nearly |
| impossible for many. It's always wise to choose a | | | | unbearable burden. Sometimes we experience set |
| route that you can complete. With any goal, | | | | backs we had not anticipated, find difficulties we had |
| determine before hand what needs to be done. If | | | | not foreseen. At these times, it is easy to want to |
| some steps must occur in sequence, you should | | | | give up. Sometimes, we start to think that one |
| know what order they should be done in and you | | | | muddy stretch of path is the whole mountain, or that |
| should have a plan to accomplish them in the | | | | our present challenge won't ever go away. It's |
| necessary manner and time. | | | | important to remember that this is not the case. Just |
| Prepare for the Journey | | | | as unexpectedly as these challenges arose, they may |
| Climbing a mountain is a serious undertaking. Whether | | | | disappear. A few more steps may lead you from |
| a large hill or a mountain of Himalayan proportions, | | | | rough rock to a smoother path. Even if it doesn't, |
| each climb has its own unique challenges. What will | | | | you may quickly learn to navigate through these |
| you wear? What will you eat? How will you stay | | | | difficult stretches with more ease, strengthened by |
| hydrated? How will you stay on your predetermined | | | | the challenges you have already faced. |
| course? Do you have the necessary equipment to | | | | One Step at a Time |
| climb? Are you prepared for an injury or other | | | | Between base and summit, regardless of what |
| accident? No serious climber ignores these questions, | | | | problems you encounter or what advantages you |
| nor do they fail to equip themselves properly for the | | | | have, a mountain is climbed by putting one foot in |
| climb. | | | | front of the other. Even on flat ground, progress |
| Unfortunately, many people, when faced with their | | | | requires action, and if you don't take step after step, |
| own goals or challenges, fail to ask any of the | | | | again and again, you won't ever get anywhere. |
| important questions. People will often set off to | | | | Though a mountain may look daunting, it is still |
| conquer their personal Kilimanjaro, but don't take the | | | | overcome one step at a time. When it is wet and |
| right equipment. They fail to get the necessary | | | | cold and muddy, you simply move forward, step |
| education or training for the job they really want. | | | | after step. No matter how steep or rough the path, |
| Maybe they decide to work out more, but never get | | | | your progress comes the same way, by moving |
| around to buying shoes for such an activity. | | | | forward one little bit after another. |
| Sometimes people forget about the need to sustain | | | | Other goals are no different. Once a working plan is |
| themselves, and don't give a second thought to | | | | made, it's simply a matter of moving from point A to |
| financial or medical necessities. | | | | point B. If your goal is a college degree, then you |
| Proper preparation is essential to any real | | | | must go to class every day, one at a time, one after |
| accomplishment. In order to prepare you must take | | | | the other. If you wish to play the piano, it must be |
| the time to consider the many factors that go into | | | | practiced, known skills mastered and new skills |
| such an undertaking. Well worded is the old adage, 'A | | | | learned. If you wish to build your muscles, it is done |
| failure to prepare is preparation for failure'. | | | | one repetition at a time. This is important for two |
| Begin Where You Are | | | | major reasons. The first has to do with the long run - |
| When standing at the base of a mountain, it is easy | | | | moving from the base to the summit. You must |
| to wish you were already well on your way or to | | | | realize that you have to take steps. No amount of |
| feel overwhelmed. This is just as true of any other | | | | planning, preparation or determination will amount to |
| challenge. Many times, people look at something they | | | | anything if you never take the next step. You will |
| truly desire and allow themselves to be discouraged | | | | instead spend day after day, standing at the base of |
| by the enormity of the mountain before them. They | | | | the mountain. The long term is made up of countless |
| tell themselves, 'If only I had more education, more | | | | steps, and you must take them. |
| money, more free time, less stress, fewer pounds, | | | | The second reason it is so important to understand |
| fewer debts, better coworkers, or a nicer boss.' As | | | | the step by step process is found in the moment. At |
| they list the things standing between them and their | | | | any given moment in your climb, you may look up at |
| goals, they give up. They quit before they even | | | | the rest of the mountain and tell yourself that it's too |
| start. They look at the mountain and decide that, | | | | much, that you can't do it. Maybe you think it is |
| because they aren't half way up it already, it's too | | | | simply too difficult to lose weight, or to quit smoking. |
| far to climb. But what mountain climber really lets the | | | | If taken all at once, it probably is. You cannot summit |
| mountain discourage them from the climb? Instead, | | | | a mountain in one step - it's too far, it's too steep. |
| they look at the mountain and welcome the | | | | You can, however, take the next step. You can |
| challenge. If there is a midpoint that they wish they | | | | choose to eat something healthy for your next meal. |
| were at, they decide to climb there, and then to go | | | | You can choose to go another hour without a |
| on as they wanted to. | | | | cigarette. You can always take one more step even |
| In our own lives, we need to realize that there are | | | | if you don't think you could do another after that. |
| no obstacles, there is merely more mountain to climb. | | | | Knowing this, you can look not at the entire |
| Your own challenges should never prevent you from | | | | mountain, but at the ground immediately in front of |
| reaching your goals. Instead of seeing a problem and | | | | you. Conquer that single piece of ground and you will |
| giving up, set for yourself an intermediate goal, a | | | | surely conquer the mountain in time. |
| midway point on your journey up the mountain. If | | | | Reaching the Summit |
| you lack the necessary education for a job, make it | | | | When all is said and done, you will reach to peak of |
| an intermediate goal to finish your degree. Like the | | | | your mountain. Step after step, you will finally reach |
| mountain climber, once that intermediate goal is | | | | that goal you have longed for, the thing you have |
| accomplished, then you will find yourself halfway up | | | | worked for. There is something magical about |
| the mountain. No matter what your circumstances | | | | standing on top of a mountain, looking out over the |
| are and what your goals may be, you cannot hope | | | | world below. There is a powerful sense of |
| to begin anywhere but where you are. | | | | accomplishment as you look back down at the path |
| Never Climb Alone | | | | you have taken, knowing that you are done. There is |
| For beginning and experienced climbers alike, there is | | | | a sense of profound reverence as you gaze out at |
| one simple rule. Never climb alone. A climbing partner | | | | the view, knowing that the only people to see it |
| provides you with all sorts of support - they help | | | | have climbed the very mountain you stand on. Your |
| carry your gear, dividing the load between you. They | | | | own goals will feel the same way - the fact that you |
| help you to keep on the path. They are there to help | | | | have worked for them gives them deeper meaning, |
| you if you are hurt. They can help you when you are | | | | makes them worth the effort. Remember than |
| tired or hungry or sore, keeping you motivated over | | | | anyone who sees the view from atop a mountain |
| the more difficult parts of the climb. It's a fool that | | | | has earned that view, and nature has paid them in full |
| climbs a mountain alone. | | | | for that work. |
| This same practice is easily applied to the | | | | Go out and find your own summits. Reach the |
| accomplishment of any other task or goal. If your | | | | heights you have only dreamed of reaching. Step by |
| goal is to be in better shape, a partner helps you to | | | | step, you can reach any height you dare to climb to. |
| remember to work out and helps you stick to your | | | | Good luck and good climbing. |
| plan. During those times when your own desire | | | | |