False Summits (of life)
What is it about hiking trails? They all seem to have a spot that appears to be the top, your destination, the summit; but it isn’t. It is a point in the trail that is visible from below that looks to be where the trail ends. Because of a turn in the path, a change in incline, something blocking the view, the remainder, and quite often the hardest part, of the trail is not visible until you reach this spot that you thought was the end.
How like any part of the journey of life that is. Grief is like that. Accomplishments, goals, school, or just a moment inside of something big, are all like that. There are so many false summits on the trail of life. So many places that feel like the end or the pinnacle; only to find out it is just a pause, a place to rest before more hard work.
Some people find reaching the false summit is a good place to turn around; deciding they don’t want to continue the slog uphill; and some will take the little bit of flat ground as a sign that they should stop and rest and regroup. After all, reaching the false summit is an accomplishment. You are further up the mountain than you were when you started the climb. In fact, most false summits are very close to the top- the actual summit.
The surprising thing about a false summit, even if you have been warned, you’ve heard all about it, you’ve read and researched the climb, you are still going to experience it. You might not be fooled, per se, but you will not be able to see the top of the trail until you reach the false one.
Grief is like that. You work your way up the path, the uphill climb through the stages. It’s hard. You keep your head down and plod along. When you take a moment to look up you think you see the end of the struggle. You see a place that you will rest in your loss. The view will be beautiful and you will have arrived. Only to get there and realize you are right back at an early stage of pain and more climbing. Like the trail, grief is never-ending. It just has periods that are easier. Periods that are beautiful and peaceful. Parts that you wouldn’t change; and parts that you wouldn’t want to ever experience again.
Nursing school is like that. You reach the false summit of graduation; only to see that the worst of the climb is starting that nursing career, and looking back to see that the first part of the path wasn’t really all that hard, compared to this part of the climb.
Fitness journeys, weight loss, building something- anything, will all have false summits. Stops and starts, moments where you could quit, turn around. You can do that. You can decide the work, the training, the momentum and motivation are just not there or that they are not worth it. You can be happy with how far you have gotten on the path. After all, if you are on the path you are further along than anyone still sitting on their couch. You can climb and scratch and claw your way to the false summit and decide to rest there. Decide to stay there. After all, it is a long way from the parking lot. The view is beautiful.
If you decide to move onward and upward from the false summit to complete your hike and arrive at the true summit, It will be hard, you will be exhausted. Your legs and lungs may be burning. Your backpack and other things you carry may feel way heavier than they did. You are thirsty, you want a snack. But you can see the end, it is within your reach. One final push.
Don’t get discouraged by your false summits. They are places to rest. They are a sign you are almost there. They are an accomplishment.
Happy hiking.