The Mountain

So many of my days lately are spent with me replaying the message of, "keep your chin up", in my head. This week I've had a sinus infection and have felt like doing nothing other than staying in my cozy bed watching HGTV and Little House on the Prairie. I can't tell you how Little House on the Prairie is my Chicken Soup for the Soul. It's my comfort show. But, with 2 small boys who have the energy of a hurricane, there is no time for staying in bed. So I've had to push through these days and tell myself to "keep my chin up" despite how I feel. Yesterday was a little bit easier than today. Today my body says no more.

As that message has been playing in my head, I thought about the first time I ever climbed Mt. LeConte in the Smokies. For some reason, the physical reminders of me keeping my chin up are A LOT easier to recall, and become motivated from, than the emotional times. The first time I hiked it was in 2005. Dave and I were in the Smokies on our anniversary getaway and were only planning on doing a day hike to the half way point of LeConte. Dave had hiked LeConte many times in the past and after hearing the stories of the climb, I didn't think my bad knee would let me climb that high in one trip. So I took the easy way out (not the first time) and said "because of my bad knee", because of this....because of that....because of how I feel -I CAN'T. Those "becauses" have proven to be my biggest challenge, nothing that I am attempting or working through, but my own self thinking of "I can't".

Dave settled for "because" and was happy with only going half way then. So up we went, to set out on our hike of about 2 1/2 hours. Except, when I got to my goal, to my destination, I found that I wanted more. That I wanted the challenge of going up. I think the deciding factor was finding out that the only way to get a LeConte "I hiked it" shirt was to actually go up there and buy it. That motivated me enough for the challenge. So after a bit of rest, we continued on. Up the mountain we went. I had no choice but to keep my chin up. I was looking up. Up to my goal, to my destination...the mountain...my mountain. Up to the place where only I could take myself. Nobody could do this for me. It was pure will...my will.

And 5 hours and 2,700 ft. later, we made it to the top of that mountain. To the place where keeping my chin up and focused brought me to. My will and drive was driven enough to carry me to the top. Sure I hit rough spots along the way, but my eye was still focused on the prize. And by having my eye on the prize, my chin had no where to go, but up.

Since then, I have hiked LeConte 2 additional times. We would have done it again this year if it had not been for moving and not being certain of plans and finances. I am the most proud of myself when I am on those trips. I am able to see, feel, hear, taste and touch where it is exactly that I came from. To come to the end and experience that victory is the ultimate experience. I just wish it could always be that easy to experience the journey in other situations, especially when it comes to growing and maturing in this thing called life.

By applying my experience of the mountain, I am learning that by setting goals and looking toward them, my chin has to look up. If I keep my eye on the goal, my chin will follow and I will be a more productive, confident person. Goals give us purpose, and purpose makes us happier people. So this is my reminder to keep on setting goals and to stick with them.