...is watching others, especially those a lot younger than me, climb their own mountain.
Society and culture tries to teach us that there's only one mountain, like Mt. Hood in Oregon, that in order to get to the top, we have to pull others down, we have to step over other people's journey, because there's ultimately room for only a few at the top.
In my experiences over the last decade, I 1000% DISAGREE with that notion.
I see life more like the Rocky Mountains...
Each person has their own mountain to climb...
The more people who successfully climb their mountain, the more beautiful the view from the top when we take people with us - all of us conquering our own insecurities and deepest fears to come out on top...
The greater the awe and wonder of the mountains the higher we climb, the more grandiose the joy and elation we have of the journey to get there.
There are seemingly unlimited "tops" of mountains, so each person, if they so choose, can get to their top, without impacting or threatening someone else getting to their top of their own mountain.
Every person is dealt with different cards in life, just as each mountain is different, no two exactly alike. Just because someone's mountain may be bigger or smaller than ours doesn't make it any less significant in the landscape of beauty that the mountains combined create, there's a place for every mountain.
Some like the view from the bottom of their own mountain, it's closer to the water, nature is clearer, it's very comfortable at the bottom, less risk, it's safe. Nothing wrong with it, it can be a great place to be, some prefer to camp out their whole life at the bottom of their mountain...
...keep in mind for some mountains, the bottom of that mountain is at the same elevation as the top of another mountain. Just because someone else's floor might be our ceiling, it doesn't mean our mountain has any less significance in the landscape of the Rocky Mountains. It also doesn't mean we can't jump mountains. The mountain we're on isn't permanent, but if we want to jump mountains, we better be ready for the new terrain, the new environment, required to climb that next mountain.
Some like the challenge of a climb for a little bit, maybe they get 1/3 of the way up their mountain, maybe even halfway, but somewhere along the way, they find a nice plateau on their mountain where they'd like to settle down, build their life...
...maybe they're not enjoying the view from the very top of their mountain, but nonetheless still enjoying a fantastic view of beauty and nature from the journey they've climbed to get there. They can rest in the safety of avoiding the turbulent winds, freezing temperatures, and the unlivable elevation from the top of the mountain. Many people like to enjoy life's sunset from here, which, great for them, they still had the guts to climb.
While others strive for the view from the top of their mountain. It's definitely more dangerous at the top. There's a greater price to pay, it may take much longer to get there. As the top nears, each step forward gets 10x harder, it takes character and pure guts to make this climb. But I don't think anyone can argue that the most beautiful view is the view from the top. The reward is worth it for those willing to climb to the top.
So what's the point? Get it, "point" like the peak of a mountain is it's point?! Haha... Man, I probably made dead bodies roll in their grave with how bad that joke was.
In all seriousness, when you look at the Rockies, every mountain, every plateau, every valley, every climb has it's place in the landscape, all culminating in a breath-taking wonder of the world that we call the Rocky Mountains.
Same as each of us, we all have our own mountain to climb.
We do not determine the size or our mountain or the starting elevation of our mountain, life predetermines that for us.
How far we climb up our own mountain is up to us.
Just because we hit a higher elevation than others, doesn't mean we are any better or worse off, our journey is our journey, we chose our path.
We are not limited by the peak of our own mountain, there are always new mountains to climb and higher elevations to reach, should we choose to climb them.
When I was young, 19, and very naïve...
I remember taking a lot of pride in being on a journey to do a lot better financially, physically, and mentally than people much older than me.
Well, a lot of failure and a lot of humbling experiences in my early 20s brought bitterness and frustration with me into my mid-20s where I didn't achieve MOST goals I had set out for myself at 19. In fact, I remember anytime I saw someone my age or younger doing much better than me in areas I thought I was really good, I saw it as a threat, envy set in, and I’d sometimes throw myself a pity party for why I wasn’t where I wanted to be.
Now just recently turning 30, looking over the past couple years, we’ve had our breakthroughs, we’ve experienced some levels of success. With that has come a lot of humility, understanding, and just pure excitement for anyone who’s successful or on the path to success around me, regardless of whether they're older or younger.
There are many I have surpassed, but I’m no better, their experiences still teach me many things, and I feel I gain collective wisdom from the failures and regrets of those much older than me that truly aide me in the present-day choices I make.
Seeing the success of people much younger than me, though, is my BIGGEST motivation and probably my BIGGEST WHY. The success of people much younger than me means there's hope for future generations, there's hope for my future kids, that success has no respect of person, and that those who remain dedicated and disciplined to the process, can make absolutely anything happen in their life.
I want my future kids to have examples to look up to, many I know for a fact who will be MUCH younger than me, and have 10x more the success than I did at their age.
I'm excited for those few of you who want to join us in 2023 and the next decade, who want to uplift people, be an example, and build up the next generations to come. Let's be giants in our own lives, so that the next generations have solid shoulders to stand on.
Go be great. I'm proud of you.
Fashion Fitness
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