Mindful Miles

My miles felt like a mirror today. They started tough—a steep, relentless incline that made me slow to a crawl. My calves burned, my breath hitched, and honestly, all I could focus on was the effort. I kept thinking, “This is the ‘low’ phase of the walk; I wish I was already at the top.”

Then, I stopped for a water break. I looked back, and from the difficult angle of the ascent, I saw the valley spread out below in an unexpected masterpiece of greens and blues. The view was beautiful, but it was the perspective that stunned me. That beautiful vista wasn’t visible from the flat, easy path I started on an hour ago. I had to climb through the struggle to earn that breathtaking vantage point.

That’s when the lesson hit me, clear as the mountain air:

Life is not meant to be one long, flat, easy trail. We spend so much energy wishing away the “low” phases—the job loss, the heartache, the confusing period—desperately waiting for the “highs.” But those challenging, uphill moments? They aren’t just obstacles; they are the price of admission for the best, most profound perspectives. The struggle is what elevates us, gives us the vantage point, and makes the subsequent, easier stretch feel like an absolute gift.

I finished my walk differently, deliberately seeking gratitude for every part of the path: the smooth parts that allow me to cruise, and the tough parts that teach me how high I can truly climb.

Let’s honor the entire journey today. Cheers to the lessons we learned in the valley, the strength we found on the steepest climb, and the glorious views we now carry within us.

🥂 Here’s to embracing every step, and to the brighter days that beckon.