Bask

My friend Kathy and I set out for what ended up being a 6 mile trail run last Saturday.  We chose one of our well-traveled paths, inevitably encountering the creek I always have trouble crossing.  I never enjoy water features as part of my running, but Kathy was excited for me this time because an unknown benefactor, seemingly aware of my plight, had constructed a make-shift bridge. There’s a steep incline on both ends, and of course I hesitated before leaping on to it.  Kathy coached me to pick up some speed and be confident.  Taking her advice, I made it safely across.  We both cheered.

Doesn’t seem like much does it?  But we all encounter obstacles on the way to reaching our goals. Too often we are so intent on getting to our destination; we don’t allow ourselves the joy of savoring the steps we take to get there.   

There’s something to be said for celebrating small victories.

Let’s face it; life is not about the end game.  It is a journey to be experienced and enjoyed as we go.  Saving up the celebrations doesn’t guarantee our desired outcome, nor does it make it any sweeter when we get there. 

When you’ve set your sights on a big dream, you need to break it into smaller pieces to reach it, sometimes for no other reason than you’re not sure what comes next.  The steps you take aren’t always pretty or graceful, but they get you closer to what you want.

Taking time out to recognize and appreciate achieving a milestone is often the respite and salve we need to keep plugging away in challenging situations.  The road to our most meaningful goals is a series of small steps that often feel risky, scary and larger than life.  Just because we’re not at the top of our mountain yet, doesn’t mean we can’t enjoy the view half-way up.

We get to choose how we experience life. It’s rarely predictable, prescribed or perfunctory.  Take some time to enjoy, you’ll still get where you want to go.