See You at The Top

The mountain is used as a metaphor or analogy in many forms to describe the journey or process of achievement. It is one that seems to match so well the experiences of life. Obviously, we can all only speak for ourselves and I am sure there are many who do not see life this way. Is it positive to do so? 

It is something that fits well with me right now. There is something in us that whenever we see a mountain we commonly have the desire to conquer it and get to the top, maybe for a myriad of reasons. Initially I think it is to experience ‘the top’ itself, to take in the view, sit high up and survey all below, that inspires us. Just as with our dreams and goals we set out because we want the feeling that we believe the end result will give us. How many of us set out, particularly in our early years just for the journey or the climb. I guess its pretty near to zero. 

So, if it is meaningful enough, we set out to conquer our mountain. It may be a formidable Everest that has taken considerable planning and thought or it may be simply something in our day at work which will involve us applying ourselves to achieve a particular outcome. 

How many of us have ever experienced looking up at the apparent summit, making a great concerted effort to get there, with the expectation that just over this peak we will be at the top of the world, so to speak, only to get there and see our view obscured by another rising wall of rock stretching out in front of us? If you haven’t, have a go sometime.

Then you feel that initial disappointment sensation and wonder where you are going to get the energy from to get over it. Dependant on the circumstances you may gird your loins for the next stage or decide to return to base and review before possibly going again. These are all common occurrences in a human life. 

I vouch that no matter what, whether we forge on and test ourselves against the next wall of rock or decide we have come far enough for now, we are changes as a result. We now know the way. We know what lies ahead. We have experienced the path. Whatever we face in the future we have more to call on. This really is where the beauty lies. The true value is in the climb, the struggle and the journey. Whether we get to where what we have set our heart on today may not be up to us. There will be many externals that can impact upon us. Our job is just to decide, set out in the best way we can and dare I say it, enjoy the journey. We may as well. What is the alternative? Not to? 

Of course, as I have said before, life is not a provider of a bucket of goodies for each and everyone of us all day, everyday so we have no problems. In fact it seems to be a relentless provider of challenges for us to overcome. Rather a gloomy outlook? Well it depends. There is a theory that we only get presented with challenges we need to move through and once we have been victorious, as it were, that chapter is done and we get the next type. So ok, we get a continuum of challenges, which aligns perfectly with ‘Vivre Militare Est’ or to live is to fight. 

The exciting news is that if we learn the lessons each time, then we will move on to newer challenges and have the opportunity to move to ‘higher’ places, if I can use such a term. It’s the evolutionary process. The circle of life, as it were. We may as well adopt the approach of ‘Amor Fati’ or love our fate as this process is telling us how we are doing. The experiences are our barometer of where we are. 

Everything is linked and this is your ‘Hero’s Journey’. It’s a quest. Don’t drag your heels it only creates friction, slows the process down and creates a more uncomfortable ride than necessary. Who says you cannot be carried up the mountain? I suspect you may have had to have been in the arena somewhere before at some point along the line but teamwork makes the dreamwork and ‘he aint heavy he’s my brother’ come to mind. That though, I think is for another time. 

Whatever your take on it, I’ll leave it at that for now. I set out with an aim when I began writing this. I’ve been changed as a result. That wasn’t the objective but it is the outcome. I’ll return to what I wanted to say initially and that is:

“I’ll see you at the top!”

 Or as one of my best mates always says:

“I’ll see you at The Far Post!”  

Love ya Lodgy.

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