Go 10 Steps Further
As you have likely noticed, I believe a lot of lessons learned on the trails transfer extremely well to life lessons generally. I was recently lucky enough to be hiking in the Rockies, chalk full of spectacular scenery, the grounding energy of massive peaks, and the calm serenity of glacier lakes. Mountains have the power to make you and your problems feel insignificant - but in a good way, not the way dismissive humans can make you feel. Their unwavering strength and beauty is something that must be experienced and can’t be described in writing. As a wise Asian Proverb says, “It is better to see something once than hear about it a thousand times.” This couldn’t be more true than in the Rockies. The trails can be steep and unrelenting, but one thing that is guaranteed when hiking in this region is that the further you go, the more amazing it gets. Without fail. When you think the views are the best they are going to get, take 10 more steps and your jaw will drop at what this new perspective allows you to see. 10 more steps, and your socks will be blown off. Suddenly a whole new mountain range or glacier can come into view without warning. Had you stopped, you’d still have fantastic views to enjoy, but compared to where you find yourself now, they seem to have only been a tease.
Thank goodness for digital photos and iPhone cameras! I’d stop and gawk at the views, take pictures, then put my camera back in my pocket, only to fish it out again a few steps down the path as the view became even more impressive. This theme carries on, the entire time, until you reach the top. That is part of the magic of hiking in the Rockies. So the lesson? To always go further, until you are confident that you are at the top, or until you have maxed out your skill set. As amazing as the mountains are, they can also be unforgiving. It would be foolish to trek into some areas without the right gear, the right skills, or the right conditions. Perhaps even a guide would be needed to help ensure you’re safe and in terrain that is within your abilities. Safety first and first aid last I always say! So however far you make it, admire your journey, the views where you are, and head back down. Then, work on your skills and gather the right gear so that next time, you can make it just another 10 steps further. Whatever you do, just don’t stop because you don’t “feel” like putting in the effort to go further. You will kick yourself later. And promise me, you won’t make the tragic mistake that so many do… Don’t take only 10 steps out of the vehicle and settle for the “parking lot views”. Put in the work to go further. It will be worth the effort in the end.
The same rules apply to your health. Make the good choices, put in the effort and be willing to go that extra 10 steps for yourself. You’ll be amazed at what just a little bit more will do for you, your body, and your life. If you aren’t at the top, go another 10 steps and you might just find yourself with a whole new perspective. If it seems scary at first, get yourself a guide who can help you navigate your unchartered terrain. To push you when you need it, but also make sure you’re safe. There are many qualified health care professionals out there happy to partner with you on your journey. At the end of the day though, it is ultimately you who has to get out of the vehicle and go further. You can do it! Put one foot in front of the other, don’t worry about the stumbles that will happen along the way and you’ll get there. Just don’t settle for the stories of others who have been there - or the underwhelming parking lot views.