Life lessons are everywhere if we take the time to stop and appreciate them, right? Walking consistently has probably been one of my biggest teachers, which I know sounds a little weird. There have been lots of personal lessons about my own capabilities and the limiting beliefs I was holding onto so tightly but also just general life lessons.
Our walking group has grown dramatically over the last year. When I started we were a core group of 6 ladies but in the past few months we have had up to 20 ladies show up consistently. While it has taken some getting used to for me, it is has also been interesting to hear everyone’s stories and connect with ladies I would normally never even cross paths with.
On Sunday we walked my favourite walk, Wolvespruit. I walk here twice a week because it is close but also because it is so beautiful and the trail has some elevation but also enough time for you to recover. But the two climbs are tough.
As we approached the second climb, I said “Argh I hate this one, it feels like it goes up forever.”
One of the ladies says “But it will pass.”
HA! Yes, yes it will! And I was reminded right there of a life lesson. It will pass. Whatever it is you are going through, it will pass. You will eventually get to the top of the mountain and you will be able to breathe again.
I remember just after David lost his job and we started climbing what felt like an impossibly high mountain. There were times it felt like things would never get better and we would never breathe easily again. But we didn’t stop moving, even when we had to take a few steps back, we kept moving and somewhere along the way we reached the top of the mountain. I can’t really tell you when it happened but I know it did because now, we are walking the flat route with a few obstacles along the way but we are breathing easy now.
I have similar stories about stages of parenting, particularly with the girls. It felt relentless and impossible some days but now they are both doing so incredibly well.
Working for yourself is also like a freaking never ending series of cliffs, never mind mountains. But I am glad we pushed through the failures and setbacks because the view from up here now is amazing.
Life really does feel like you are climbing a series of mountains – sometimes they are small and you make it easily, other times they can feel insurmountable when you are standing at the bottom.
But, it will pass. It always does.
Wow! That is wonderful that your group has grown so much! We have such a hard time getting anyone to show up for our walks/hikes regularly.