My husband, Jeff, has talked me into doing something CrAzY in about a year. We are going to climb one of the largest mountains in the world. No, NOT Everest. I'm not that crazy! We're gonna go to Tanzania to summit Mount Kilimanjaro. It's a pretty big challenge for me and to be honest, I'm scared! In preparation for this expedition, I need to train my body in new ways throughout 2010 in order to gain additional muscle and endurance. They say the physical part is not so difficult, but the fact that I'd be in Africa camping for about 7 days on a gigantic mountain is quite intimidating. I am not one of those thrill seekers. In fact, I actually have real fears about stupid things. Fear would quite easily dominate my life if I let it. But still, I love the analogy that can be made when comparing this challenge to life. We all have our own "mountains" in life. Some have many mountains. The meaning of life cannot be found by avoiding mountain after mountain. It is facing them head on!
I may not be able to talk you into climbing Kili with us, but I do want to challenge you to set out to make 2010 your BEST year yet. We've all faced challenges in 2009, and I've even heard many say that they are extremely happy to have this past year behind them. The past is the past. Let us all strain forward and receive all the great things that this new decade has in store for us. No, it's not by sitting around waiting for it to happen. Let destiny do its part, but you need to meet your destiny halfway.
In January's Nutrition Tidbits, I asked several dietetic colleagues what they will be doing in 2010 to maintain good health. Check out what they had to say. What will it be for you? In other words, what is your mountain(s) to climb?
Let's start this year off strong with measurable yet reachable healthy lifestyle goals. And let us reach them together. Take a chance. Do something different to change things up. Challenge yourself in new ways. You will not regret it!
WOW Angela!! You go girl!!
ReplyDeleteI didn't know I talked you into it?!?
ReplyDeleteI like your analogy, and personally try to take it even further. It's not facing mountains head-on, it's also facing them with your head-up. Sometimes focusing on the next small step is very important, but far too often that's the way people live life - entirely focused on their own problems. Keeping your head held high, focusing on the enjoyment of the opportunity in addition to merely surmounting the difficulty is a very important part of climbing/life to me. It's gaining the larger perspective and enjoying the challenges life gives us instead of staying focused on the tedium grinding out day to day.
Much can be said about applying this to weight loss, or overcoming disease, or any other challenge. Perspective can give us an understanding to our part in God's epic story and allows us to inspire the lives of those around us.