This morning my husband Chris and I took a walk on South Mountain. As mountains go it is is not exactly the top of the heap. Mount Suppoa (the highest peak) reaches 2,690 feet.
As I tripped up the trail (literally) I saw others making the trek. Mothers with little children, bikers, hikers and the like, all were taking advantage of the trails on a glorious Arizona Sunday morning.
Walking the paths, I thought back on the week and the many people I had met with and talked to. Each were climbing their own mountains (metaphorically). Some were looking for jobs. Some were starting them. Others were starting new businesses or growing the businesses they work in. Some had had unexpected set backs. Some were worried about what was yet to come as the economy continued to falter and the stock market hit a new low. But interestingly, as each tackled their personal mountains…no one was giving up. Each was taking it one step at a time.
I remember another time when things were pretty bleak. It was October of 2001. The Dot.com implosion had just begun to really gain momentum. Our country had just experienced one of its greatest tragedies – the horror of 9-11. At that time my husband and I were in China and climbing another mountain, this time along the Juyongguan Pass (about 37 miles from the city of Beijing) back in those days we also faced uncertainty, a perilous stock market, job losses, and the like. But we rose up after that period in history and started climbing again. Just like we did in ’89, in ’92 in the 70’s and on and on it goes. You take each step just as my friends and I did along the Great Wall. You struggle to reach the ‘top’, and when you do, before you is an incredible vista – of more steps and watchtowers as far as the eye can see. Each one is a new milestone – a challenge to be reached. And in between there are valleys where you step down before you can begin to step up again.
It’s been said that there is only one way to eat an elephant…one bite at a time. Well, when it comes to tackling mountains, we take it one step at a time. In the end, it’s worth it.
So as I prepare to tackle the week ahead, I have my hiking shoes on. We each have a mountain to conquer, I wish you luck with yours.
Joan Koerber-Walker, CorePurpose, Inc.
