Posts Tagged ‘journey’

Wednesday Wellness: Are We Done Yet

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Yesterday, I was at the tail-end of one of my yoga classes when a new person in class asked, in a slightly louder voice than she intended, “Are we done?” I’m sure she was hoping with all her heart that it was!

At the time, it was pretty comical, however it got me thinking: Are we ever really done? Or maybe more precisely: are we beginning, ending, or always moving?

Doesn’t it seem that whatever task or event we are working on we’re benchmarking it as if we are starting or working towards finishing?

If I look at my industry of health and wellness, I meet cool folks all the time who are looking to “begin” a training or nutrition program so they can reach their “end” goal and in their minds “finish.”

Truly, though, this life is just that…a life journey. Sometimes we are traveling a little slower than others, sometimes we are reaching a pivotal goal and other times we are renewing our commitment to something, yet through the ebb and flow of all of this, we are always IN it, always moving, always striving. The only time we really begin is when we are born and well, you know when we truly end (at least in this body).

Enough of the heavy stuff! Seriously though, maybe we can take a look at our week a little differently right now and consider what we are IN and the joy of the momentum, the newness of projects and the satisfactions towards reaching a goal. If we only look at when we start and when we are done, are we really enjoying the middle…which is actually our life! Think about this heavy topic and contemplate stepping out of the limits of a time clock and rather start being IN the entire process, for life!


Monday Mojo: It’s All In The Build Up

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We look forward to it for weeks or months – lying on the beach, drinking a Mai Tai, and listening to the waves crash.  Oh, just the sound of it as I am writing feels amazing, refreshing, and relaxing. Then it’s over and the let down begins.

Do you ever notice when you go on vacation one of the best parts is the build up?  It’s like that for almost everything we do in life – it’s the building that is actually the best part.  Unfortunately, most people don’t realize it until they finally reach the destination, the let down begins and it’s too late. We look back and the best part has passed us by. We look back and realize it was the process of getting there – the build up or building of the outcome which was the best part. Hell – that’s what life is all about! Ask anyone who is on his or her deathbed.

All too often we think reaching the goal will make us feel better. We think things will get better when we finally reach our destination of success. However, if you listen to the true champions, the real success stories – they are present during the process and enjoy the process of growing. The process of getting better. The process of reaching the goal itself. It’s the rush of the building that fires them up. It’s the competition. It’s the small battles along the way, which they live for. The outcome is simply the result of what they love doing.

To accomplish all of your goals, love what you do and love the process of doing it. Even if you don’t reach your ultimate goal, you will be a winner and a success.

Remember the journey, not the destination is the prize – don’t take it for granted.


Wednesday Wellness: Getting to the Top is Optional, Getting Down is Mandatory!

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Recently I read the book, No Shortcuts to the Top, by Ed Viesturs, one of a handful of humans to climb the highest 14 peaks above 8,000 meters (approximately 29,000 feet) and he did it without the use of oxygen tanks.  Currently, he’s a world renowned motivational speaker.  I love to backpack, however I have never been a Mountaineer!  I was memorized!  No, I have NO desire to climb Mt. Everest (ok, maybe to base camp!) however reading his biography of what he and others have endured was quite inspiring!

He was there during the Everest tragedy several years ago, and has witnessed several deaths.  Yet, throughout his quest, he had a motto which he feels kept him alive “Getting to the top is optional, getting down is mandatory!

He always trusted his gut and never let the excitement of reaching the peak override his sensibility and safety.

Through this 18 year journey, he finally completed the 14th peak, Annapurna (which he had attempted a few time prior during this vigil).  Once he completed his lifetime dream, he questioned what was next.  He had reached his summit so to speak.  He always had a “peak” to achieve and at the time of accomplishment…he no longer had a summit…a goal, a purpose or a lifelong quest!

This got me thinking as to what my summit was (or is).  I always have goals, challenges, monthly routines…but it has been a while since I have set my eyes on a true summit and started the long arduous yet rewarding climb to the top!

We get in to our day to day mindset, day after day year after year and rather than reaching the top of a mountain, we traverse, back and forth, sometimes up a little, sometimes down.  Life, however is a journey as they say, not a destination, but what if during that journey we created a quest that we are always able to keep our sights on even when the mountain seems too stormy to climb?

I challenge you this week, as I challenge myself, to create your own summit to keep your eyes on during life’s daunting moments.  Search out the right route, the one which will get you there with safety (I didn’t say ease) but also the route which will get you back down the mountain…because that is mandatory!