|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
I grew up climbing mountains. Mountains are beautiful and challenging, majestic and all powerful. They also have lessons to teach us: lessons about life and how to live it.
Every mountain has a surprise around the corner, an obstacle in the path, or a storm brewing minutes away. During every climb you'll find yourself teetering on a ledge, knowing you could fall, and then rounding the bend and seeing a pristine light blue mountain lake nestled in the cradling arms of a snow capped peak. You may struggle to take one step at a time, and then be inspired by a mountain goat teetering on the ledge above you. Mountain climbing taught me how to deal with the unexpected.
But, LIFE taught me this: the hardest mountains we climb are the ones we can't see. Just when we think we have life figured out and we know where we are going, and how to get there?. something changes: we lose a job, a loved one, our health, a dream, a goal. There is a mountain in our way.
"Life is full of mountains to climb. The climbs are challenging and often painful. If we chose to climb, and follow our route with purpose, preparation, persistence, patience and in partnership, those mountains can become vehicles for wonderful new beginnings."
SURVIVING
At first we must try to survive ? only to survive.
Initially change is shocking. Sometimes we react with anger and sometimes denial. We feel sad, terrified, overwhelmed and out of control. We are lost in the foothills, and until we are able to become emotionally stable, this is where we need to stay as we attempt to find ourselves again. We must first find our footing so that we can move on and prepare to climb the mountain of transition.
REVIVING
Once we have our footing, we may start to a make the climb to new life.
We visualize the peak, pick a route, and start to move.
Next we prepare for survival. We must be physically, emotionally, and mentally prepared. Preparation means getting ready to do our best and persist through the tough times ahead.
We must lighten the load. We are able to travel further and faster if we carry a light load.
Maintaining an adventure attitude helps us persist. Attitude is a personal choice. The adventure attitude looks at mountains as an adventure and opportunity for positive change.
We take risks, and step out of our comfort zone. Finding a new life is all about the painful stretching that leads to new things.
We take one step at a time to get there. It involves sweat and struggle, but we can travel day-by-day, hour-by-hour, step-by-step and make progress.
We handle obstacles along the way. We know we will always encounter unexpected obstacles along the path. Those challenges make us stronger and teach us many lessons. We get stronger with every obstacle we meet, greet, and defeat.
We throw the rope to others. The support and help of friends, family, and strangers we meet along the way helps us attain success.
Thriving
As we climb to the peak, we understand the strength we have acquired through the struggle of the climb.
SOARING above the mountain of change, we find that it is our responsibility to share the lessons we have learned to help others.
Copyright © Soaring 2004 by Cheryl Perlitz
All rights reserved
About The Author
In the business world, Cheryl Perlitz is best known as the author of the popular book, "Soaring Through Setbacks - Rise above adversity - Reclaim your life" and her upcoming book "Survival Tips Handbook."
Cheryl's clients, friends and colleagues know her as a fearless mountain climber and nature lover with an insatiable spirit of adventure. She is a dynamic speaker and trainer/facilitator for Candidate University and the National Speakers Assn.
Cheryl's message to you; "TRANSFORM YOUR MOUNTAINS INTO OPPORTUNITIES FOR ADVENTURE AND POSITIVE CHANGE." You may contact Ms. Perlitz through her website at www.soarwithme.com.
julie@rivendellcommunications.com
Wind Chimes and more... One man can make a difference. I've been saying this... Read More Silence means no voice input of any sort. What happens... Read More Direct Answers - Column for the week of November 25,... Read More It's funny how an acquaintance from the past just pops... Read More A LOST WORLD OF SOULWhen you hear the word 'divination',... Read More When you have your dream clear in your mind and... Read More In Corrogue I count my Blessings.These are numerous. There is... Read More In America, we have a saying: The finer things in... Read More Although shyness can be overcome, there is a fair chance... Read More Besides your daily feelings, thoughts, and experiences journal, there are... Read More Journaling is a powerful tool that can enhance our lives... Read More Don't you just hate clichés like the one illustrated in... Read More A key fault I have, and I can only talk... Read More One of the most undervalued blessings is God's will to... Read More Direct Answers - Column for the week of October 14,... Read More Direct Answers - Column for the week of November 4,... Read More Direct Answers - Column for the week of June 16,... Read More Direct Answers - Column for the week of May 24,... Read More The story of the three bricklayers has been around for... Read More The movies--what a wonderful way to spend an afternoon! I... Read More I'm a pretty competitive guy, though I try to keep... Read More The one question I keep coming back to is..."Am I... Read More Not long ago, I attended a seminar that featured Naomi... Read More Everyone who is anybody has a hobby or at least... Read More One of the biggest obstacles to our self growth and... Read More
Windchimes
for great gifts!
Inspired For Women
Silence Inside
Pride Goeth
Cool Children
Divination
What Movies Can Teach You About Meaningful Coincidences (Use Them to Get What You Want)
Blessings for the Soul
The Finer, and Finest, Things in Life
How To Deal With Shyness
Journals You Can Keep
Journaling for Two
Its The Journey, Not The Destination
A Key In Hand Is Worth A Thousand On My Desk
Stand Up!
Maternal Instincts
Neither A Borrower
Go Between
Heart
Three Bricklayers
My Favorite Movies Journal
The Bouncer (Turning Defeat into Victory)
My Next Year With Jesus (Joyful Reflections On My Walk With The Lord)
Naomi and the 5 Life Lessons
A Faux Pas Is A Mistake In A Tuxedo
Get Out Of Your Own Way
If you walk up to a stranger in the grocery... Read More
If you suffer from a nagging feeling of "there must... Read More
The world is perfect the way it is. The world... Read More
Even immediately after my car accident, every single person who... Read More
The grey sky of morning contained an ominous quality. The... Read More
"The scars you acquire while exercising courage will never make... Read More
Being the last of three daughters, I was a suprise... Read More
In old buildings there was a boiler room where men... Read More
Direct Answers - Column for the week of June 17,... Read More
"For man, as a specie, and unlike other inhabitants of... Read More
Exploring beneath the surface of a reoccurring relationship issue can... Read More
Direct Answers - Column for the week of July 28,... Read More
Direct Answers - Column for the week of August 19,... Read More
Direct Answers - Column for the week of September 8,... Read More
Everyone wants a blue ribbon. Blue. First place. The best.... Read More
Below are some of the things that, over the years,... Read More
Self esteem.Now there's a well used and little understood term.... Read More
The bedrock of the Christian faith is the good news... Read More
Isn't that an appealing title? How to Have an Effortless... Read More
"Yeah, though I walk through the valley of the shadow... Read More
In pre-revolutionary Russia, a rabbi was walking to the synagogue.... Read More
This week I did a radical thing. I bought a... Read More
Mankind's ability to give life to lifeless objects, gives rise... Read More
We must shape the future and control our destiny.When we... Read More
We are drowning in it, our grey matter is swollen... Read More
Inspirational |