On the Bright Side

Good Day Everyone,

Recently one of the great explorers of all time passed away. Sir Edmund Hillary greatest achievement was conquering the highest peak in the world. There is certain sadness to reaching an unreachable height. First of all the challenge is gone, even though a new and great challenge may be out there, that milestone has been reached. Sort of like after Neil Armstrong landed on the moon (By the way, Neil Armstrong accompanied Hillary on a trip to the north pole making him the first man to have stood at the top of Everest and at both north and south poles).

Yes, others still see it as a challenge, and most of us won’t reach the moon, or visit the summit of Mount Everest, or visit either poles, but we have our own challenges and milestones to strive for. We still have many planets, and galaxies to explore, and we still have the depths of the ocean that remain undiscovered.

The second sadness is from not being able to really relive the experience and the feeling at that precise moment of achievement. As soon as someone reaches their goal, they begin to move away from the moment. Their elation begins to live only in memories.

But to me the biggest sadness in a challenge is at the hands of those that do not accept it and instead choose to leave them to others to try and conquer. It is about challenging yourself to conquer the unconquerable. To push the known limits beyond where individuals believe they can reach. Of course everyone has the desire be remembered when it is time to leave this world.

On the Brighter Side

Sir Hillary lived a life that most of us only dream about. Although he stood on the peak of Mount Everest for only a few heartbeats of time, fifteen minutes in fact. He captured the milestone in his mind and the hearts of the world by standing there for a moment and realizing where he was, how he got there, and he spent the rest of his life conquering new challenges and helping others conquer their own private challenges.

Notice that no one ever talks about how large challenges have to be to in order for them to hold importance, but instead, as the following quote conveys it is the acceptance and overcoming the challenge that makes it worthy.

“Having a dream is what keeps you alive. Overcoming the challenges make life worth living.”
Mary Tyler Moore (1936 - )
So, when you have accomplished a goal please take a moment and recognize it for what it is. Realize when you are on the top of your game, when things are going great. I think we should look for those peaks and stop and look around to appreciate the view. Look backwards to appreciate the struggle to the top, and recognize what got you there, and who helped. Say silent thanks or yell it out for all to hear. Recognize the moment of your conquest, remember it and move forward with time. Look for the next challenge and remember to…….. Always look on the bright side of life.

Have a wonderful time at the summit,
Robert