Climb Every Molehill

I’ve had the good fortune to hike the tallest mountain in 5 states: California, Vermont, New York, New Jersey and South Dakota.

14,494 feet! It’s all in your altitude! 

At 14,494 feet, Mt. Whitney in California is the tallest mountain in the continental US.  From the summit of Harney Peak in South Dakota, I could see both Mt. Rushmore and the Crazy Horse monument, which is still being carved into the granite mountain face 60 years after its inception.  From the peak of Mt. Marcy in NY, known as Tahawus, The Cloud Splitter, I literally witnessed the thick clouds that blanketed the area all morning being parted to reveal the gorgeous valley below me.  All of this just moments after I said a prayer for the victims of 9/11, which occurred just days before.  It was truly mystical.

This summer I decided to add 5 more peaks to the list as I set my sights on climbing all 50 in the US.  Sounds impressive, right?  Perhaps, but don’t let the images of Mt. Everest delude you.

This past weekend I scaled the treacherous peak of Ebright Azimuth, the tallest peak in . . . Delaware.  It soared above the landscape at an astounding 448 feet and it was literally in a residential neighborhood.  There was a sidewalk, bench and beautiful garden next to the sign marking the elevation.  An elderly neighbor even came out from her house to say “hi.”

Not exactly a grueling adventure or something to recount magnificent tales about . . .   except for one thing.  The commitment.

I didn’t really have a strong desire to visit Delaware.  And it certainly didn’t require much effort.  Nonetheless, at some point Delaware’s highest “peak” needed to be visited to achieve the goal.  And sometimes, goals that appear as insurmountable mountains must begin with the molehills.

Often, success in one’s goals is not about who is the best skilled or the one with the most training or the one with the most natural talent.  Success lies in one’s commitment and the promise they make to themselves.  And sometimes, that first step toward your promise is all you need to propel yourself to the life and achievements you desire!

Small deeds done are better than great deeds planned.

           –  Peter Marshall

What is it that you are called to do this summer?  Don’t overwhelm yourself by choosing the Mt. Everest of goals.  Often, the hardest part of a goal is starting and breaking the inertia.  And sometimes, the Ebright Azimuths of the world are the perfect place to start your journey to achieve your dream.

I can think of no better example of how the commitment of a nation, and taking one small step at a time, can lead to achieving a dream.

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The Power of Intention

“I believe that this nation should commit itself to achieving the goal, before this decade is out, of landing a man on the moon and returning him safely to the earth.”

                                                        – President John F. Kennedy, May 25, 1961

 

In that brief yet bold statement, I believe President Kennedy made one of the clearest declarations of an intention ever made. What became possible as a result of that declaration was inspiringly demonstrated in the wee hours of July 21, 1969, when millions of children and adults from around the world were aroused from their slumbers to watch their fuzzy black-and-white TVs as Apollo 11 Commander Neil Armstrong floated from the lunar module and proclaimed, “That is one small step for man . . . one giant step for mankind.”

In that moment, I believe we proved to ourselves that anything is possible. Often, it is simply a marshalling of our resources and determination, and an unleashing of our human spirit, to make it so.

 

“I believe we possess all the resources and talents necessary. But the facts of the matter are that we have never made the national decisions or marshaled the national resources required for such leadership. . . . For while we cannot guarantee that we shall one day be first, we can guarantee that any failure to make this effort will make us last.”

 

Often, not trying what it is we dream or believe is our biggest failure. It is the doubting of our unlimited potential, more than anything else, that stops us.

 

“If we are to go only half way, or reduce our sights in the face of difficulty, in my judgment it would be better not to go at all.”

 

Whatever it is we choose to do in life, we should do it with confidence and a belief in ourselves. I think we often forget the human potential that was unleashed that day. It is a quality that once unleashed, is not something that suddenly disappears. It is now a part of all of us. Our job is to not shrink from the power such potential now blesses us with.

 

“But in a very real sense, it will not be one man going to the moon–if we make this judgment affirmatively, it will be an entire nation. For all of us must work to put him there.”

 

And most importantly, we must remember that the gifts brought forth from our individual declarations and intentions are meant to serve our species as a whole. Your gifts, when fully brought forth in the world, are a blessing to us all. Do not withhold them . . . and do not withhold the power of your intentions.

 

What intention will you bring to life this year? Declaring your intention is a good first step to bringing it to reality.  Leave a comment declaring your intention and the difference it will make in your life and watch as it begins to unfold.

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