Perspective and happiness


A few years ago when I was climbing Mt. Rainier in Washington, during our first-day backpack into base camp, I took this photo. The tiny dots on the slope in the distance are other hikers, heading up the hill that we will need to climb on our trek to the camp. We had already climbed up the mountainside several miles at this point with our packs including tents, food, and heavy mountaineering equipment. So we were tired, but clearly there was a lot of work yet to be done. Those other hikers looked SO far away!
Seeing hikers who are that distant when you're on a hike, knowing how much work you still have to do, can be discouraging. But it doesn't HAVE to be discouraging. I always try to think instead: if they can do it, so can I! They just started earlier, but the amount of work for each of us is just the same. I'll get there!
"Life" can give us similar glimpses of people who seem to be further along than we are. Those comparisons can be in financial comfort, professional achievement, or an a variety of other measures. However, unlike the hike, we don't always follow the same path in life and end up at the same destination. Some people will receive different professional recognition, or will find financial success in ways that others will never reach.
However, in the THINGS THAT MATTER MOST - living happily and peacefully, living a full and worthwhile life, finding peace and joy in the journey - we are all on the same path and can all reach the same destination, eventually. The key is to not get discouraged, but know that the destination is achievable, and that the experiences of the trail can bring all of us appropriate measures of success if we define it carefully and wisely. I #GiveThanks for the joy of the journey!

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