Brianna Wiest Quote on The Point Of Mountains

“One day, the mountain that is in front of you will be so far behind you, it will barely be visible in the distance. But the person you become in learning to get over it? That will stay with you forever. And that is the point of the mountain.”
Brianna Wiest

Beyond the Quote (142/365)

Yesterday, two friends and I set out to do a 14 mile hike through three high peaks in the Adirondack Mountains. We knew from the get-go that it was going to be strenuous and intense at times, but that’s a part of the experience. You can’t just walk on flat ground if you want to summit a mountain. If you want the reward that comes with summiting, you have to conquer all of the challenges that come with hiking. No challenge, no reward.

This is, in part, one of the reasons I feel myself drawn to the mountains—the challenge and the reward. The challenge is clear cut: make it to the top (if you can) and overcome all of the setbacks and obstacles along the way. The reward is both spectacular and satisfying. You get to see awe-inspiring views and feel a deep sense of accomplishment for overcoming the challenges that were required to make it there. The only way to reap these results is by undergoing the process—you can’t skip the process (by driving, flying, or piggy-backing) and get the same results.

Sure, you’ll get the same views, but the views don’t look the same without the challenge. This might sound silly, but it’s true. How could this be? It’s the same mountain and the same scenery… You might say. But, the difference lies not in what is seen, but in how it is seen. When you get something handed to you that you didn’t really have to work for, it’s just there. You have it, you see it, you feel it, you might even appreciate it, but it doesn’t hit the same as something that you worked your ass off for and “grabbed” for yourself.

It’s the difference between being given a car and working, earning, and saving enough to buy your own car. It’s the difference between getting an “A” on an exam that you never studied for because the material was too easy and getting an “A” because you studied your ass off and had to really apply yourself to the subject. It’s the difference between being born fit and having to work your ass off to become fit.

While this might feel like an advocacy to go and hike some mountains—it is. Just kidding (but, seriously). The real message I’m trying to advocate is one of accepting more challenges. Accept the challenge of going on an adventure that’s a little bit outside of your comfort zone. Accept the challenge of earning what you buy—not owning only what’s been given to you. Accept the challenge of learning outside of your current realm of understanding—rather than cruising through material you already know. Accept the challenge of working your ass off towards better health—even if you were born fit. Because the raw difference, from the outside looking in, might not appear to be much—but from the inside looking out, it’s completely different. The person you become in learning to overcome the challenges—that’s where the magic in life is hidden. Accept the challenges in life. Step up the challenges of your life. Your mountains are calling.