Last week, I had the pleasure of taking a real vacation for the first time in a very long time. I drove to Maine with an old friend I had not seen in 20+ years, and we decided to revive an old hobby we used to enjoy as kids- hiking in the northern portion of the Appalachian Mountain Trail. Pictured here are Ted and me in 1989 at 15 years old (and yes, we look like we are 8 😜).
After a hearty breakfast, Ted and I drove to Blueberry Mountain, an old hiking trail that we used to traverse regularly in the 1980s as teenagers, but most recently, neither of us has attempted anything that strenuous- probably nothing close to that- since 1990.
“Just Keep Moving”
From the first step, the trail we chose was more difficult than
anything I remembered from my childhood. I kept thinking, “Lee, this is normal; you are 50 years old and can’t move like you did when you were 15. Just keep moving.” I felt like Dory from Finding Nemo. We kept trudging up very difficult terrain, step by step, increasing elevation rapidly with each moment.
After about 30 minutes of nearly immediate sheer incline, we realized this was not the trail we had ascended as kids. What did we do wrong? Were we confused old men who just couldn’t find our way?
Flying Blind
We must have navigated incorrectly and found the most challenging trail on the opposite side of the mountain. However, there was absolutely NO CELL PHONE RECEPTION, so we were flying blind, just like the 80’s, and decided to keep going anyway and find our way to the summit. The one thing I remember most about those amazing hikes I used to do was the phenomenal view at the top of the mountains. Those views rewarded every bit of pain, hardship, injury, and effort, and somehow, when you are up there, you forget about all of that. You could see literally four different states on a clear day from any chosen peak in the White Mountains of New Hampshire and Maine.
I was chugging along much more swiftly than expected, ready to get to the next vista and, eventually, the top. However, it was quite a struggle; we were both having issues with balance, equilibrium, altitude, and a few near-wipeouts.
What Did We Have to Prove?
After several more missteps and falls, we took a break. We both were exceptionally hot, tired, and ready to turn back. The bugs were atrocious. It had just rained a lot the days before, and the muddy, swampy weather mixed with our perspiration, combined with exceptionally high humidity, made conditions perfect for gnats and mosquitos by the
trillions. We could have easily stopped and called it a day at any point- what did we have to prove? We have accomplished so much in our lives, and after all, we were on vacation to have fun, not be miserable. Something inside of both of us said, “No! We can’t stop now. We push on!”
The Difference Between 15 and 50
We forced our 50-year-old bodies over the next ridge, and then another, and one more; each one looked like the top until you
reached it and realized there was more to climb. It seemed endless until finally, we saw it: the top of the mountain, nearly four miles from the starting point and almost 1 mile high. The view was breathtaking, and pictures could not remotely do it justice.
We had no idea what we were in for that morning, but we got A LOT more than we expected; not only the amazing views and beautiful scenery that can’t possibly be adequately
described or replicated in most peoples’ imaginations, but the mental, physical, and emotional accomplishment of conquering a supreme challenge with very little preparation. It goes to show you- anything can be conquered with will and determination. With some extra push, we uncovered more than ever expected or believed, but if we had turned back because we were tired, hot, or bothered by bugs, what a missed opportunity that would have been!
Can You Take One More Step Today Than Yesterday?
Imagine how many extraordinary accomplishments we all have come just shy of achieving in life merely because we did not push one tiny bit further, or a little longer, or been slightly more patient? This was a great lesson, and I hope it serves as inspiration for you, whether it be in your work, home life, or health.
Nothing happens overnight and without effort, resilience, and determination. Stay with it, and you will see miracles happen time and again. Life is abundant with opportunities and great things. How we achieve them…that is up to us!
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