2.9 You've Got to Love the Hills

As a former competitive cyclist, I learned that to be stronger, riding down hills was no help. It was more fun than riding uphill, but it did nothing for my endurance. For me to be a stronger cyclist, I had to learn to love the hills because the hills make me strong.

I use this phrase daily in family life. When my children whine and complain about how ‘hard’ their lives are, I gently remind them that “you’ve got to love the hills because the hills make you strong.” The metaphor doesn’t do much for their attitude in the moment, but over time it has compounded. They approach the metaphorical hills of life with more resolve than they used to. Their attitude has improved. And they achieve more because of it.

Let’s talk about it!

• Can you share an example of a ‘hill’ or challenging situation in your professional or personal life that ultimately made you stronger?
• How can we use the ‘love the hills’ metaphor to help our students develop a stronger, more resilient mindset when they face difficulties?

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