Mountains To Conquer

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to fly? To soar through the air like a majestic eagle. To feel the wind beneath your wings with no chains to hold you down. Imagine the beauty you would see; treacherous rivers, clement beaches, forests that stretch out for miles, and magnificent snow capped mountains. Sometimes when I watch a bird glide it’s way through the sky I dream of what that would be like. To be able to fly over my troubles and live my life without a care in the world is an alluring thought.
I have been surrounded by gorgeous mountains my entire life. Living in Alaska has the benefit of breathtaking views and countless trails to explore. When I see the mountains in my backyard I always feel as though they’re speaking to me. Their beauty is undeniable and impossible to ignore. What I wouldn’t give to have the power of flight. To sprout wings and take off toward the highest peaks. To never be burdened with the struggles that hold me down.
Wouldn’t life be easier if we could just soar over our mountains instead of having to climb them?
Of course it would, but things in life are rarely that easy.
Even though the thought of simplicity is tempting we should be grateful for our uphill climbs. Take a moment to think about what the birds miss out on. They don’t get to feel what it’s like to stub their toe on a rock, or trip and skin their knee. A journey up our mountains will make sweat pour down our backs with noxious bugs swarming around us. The adventures we experience on our trails will be fraught with difficulties that might render us feeling incapable. There will be times when we will want to surrender ourselves to the mercy of the mountain and retreat to our protective shelters.
Of course, there will be some enjoyable moments too, or else the uphill climb wouldn’t be worth it. Maybe you’ll take a friend along that has a whole playlist of spectacular music that makes the hike bearable. There might be moments on the journey that you’ll be on your own too, but the memorable views are often more glorious that way.
Even with the countless disadvantages that life throws at us, it would be tragic to avoid those experiences. If we flew over our mountains we wouldn’t know the triumph that comes from conquering them. The view from our summits wouldn’t be as meaningful if we didn’t work so hard to achieve our goals.
The undeniable beauty is in the journey itself.
My journey has had it’s own ups and downs. Being a wife and mother is cluttered with foggy days that cloud up the view of my incredible summit. Sometimes my trail is full of darkness and I fear that I won’t be able to find my way. The uphill climb is so exhausting at times that I wonder how I’m going to get out of bed, let alone put my hiking boots on. Those trying days are the times that it is important to remember what I’m climbing for.
But my adventures are not always so dismal.
There are days that are filled with sunshine that chase the pesky mosquitoes away. The laughter of children can clear the fog that shrouds my lovely views.  A delightful conversation with a friend can uplift my darkened mind. Taking a moment to breathe in the fresh air can drive away mundane feelings.
So make the most of your journey. Persevere through the difficult days. Don’t let the trepidation of the unknown cause you to give in. The temptation to fly over your mountains might be strong, but your sheer force of will is stronger. Enjoy the good parts of your climb when you have them and smile through the rest. Even if it doesn’t seem like it at times, you will conquer your mountain. Your experiences from your climb will give you the fortitude to take on the next captivating peak that plants itself in front of you.
The journey wasn’t just meant to be endured, so don’t forget to enjoy it too. Life is more beautiful when we have mountains to conquer.

Are You A Dreamer Too?

What do you think of when you hear the term ‘dreamer’? Is it only something you do at night when you’re sleeping? Or maybe during an office meeting when you should be paying attention? Perhaps you desperately needed an escape from stress and your mind wandered when it shouldn’t have? You could be dreaming up world changing ideas, hopes, or wishes. Maybe you’re just thinking about a funny meme that you saw on facebook while your spouse is telling you about their day. We’ve all been there, right? If you say ‘no’ than I’m fairly certain you’re being less than honest with yourself.
For me, it’s a story inside my head. Dreaming makes life adventurous. It makes the mundane tolerable and the tedious more exciting. There’s nothing more entertaining for me than to create a character inside my head while I’m cleaning or chasing my rambunctious children around the house. Or plotting a landscape that can’t be seen with the naked eye and creating colors that aren’t part of our reality. Better yet, imagining a dramatic fight scene that I can later put down on paper while I’m trying to help my struggling toddler clean up his spilled milk.
Let’s just say; without my imagination life would be intolerable. I can’t comprehend what my world would be like if I didn’t have this gift. The ability to create worlds and characters that have thoughts, feelings, actions, and relationships is such a huge stress relief for me. It really has been a blessing in my life. I’m sure that the people who know me personally don’t realize that while they’re talking to me I could be creating another conversation in my head between the characters I’m working on. Or while I’m sitting on their couch watching our kids play I’m rehearsing what I’m going to type on my computer when I get home. It can be awkward, I suppose. Especially when I blurt out something random that has nothing to do with our real life conversation.
Being a mother is so amazing and I love hearing my children create their own stories through their playtime. Each and every one of us used to be the same way. As children our job was to play. We used our imaginations without feeling embarrassed or self conscious about who could be watching or listening. I remember playing with my brother and cousins in the backyard and we would create battle scenes playing ‘Cowboys and Indians’. Sticks were swords, rocks were grenades, trees were meant for climbing, and the ‘stink bomb’ mushrooms were poisonous gas if you stepped on them. We were ninjas, hunters, soldiers, orphans, and every other thing we could think of. Sometimes as the only girl in the group I would be the princess. Of course, I wouldn’t allow myself to be too dainty because a princess had to be able to fight her way through the backyard that had suddenly turned into a spooky jungle.
But, like all good things, it has to come to an end. Right?
Growing up is inevitable and it’s also the goal. To see a child grow to adulthood and become successful is every parent’s hope. Unfortunately, in many ways, I think our imagination dies. We tend to forget about the fairy godmother that showed us the way through the forest so we could escape the wicked witch. Or the best friend with the curly purple hair that no one else could see but you. Instead we go through the stresses of high school and college. We deal with both healthy and unhealthy relationships. Some of us make a family for ourselves to take care of and others focus on goals that they hope will bring them a purpose. But regardless of what we do with our lives, one thing is certain; we work ourselves to the bone everyday. Our work is no longer to play pretend, but to survive in the world. We focus on careers, we raise kids, and maybe we’ll take a vacation every once in a while.
But did our imagination have to die along the way?
Did we have to stop building worlds and creating imaginary friends? Did we have to forget how freeing dreaming could be?
I couldn’t let a good thing like that die, so I chose to embellish it. That’s why I read and write. That’s why I listen closely when my kids are playing to hear the conversations they have with their invisible friends that are so real to them. When I go hiking or climb a mountain its so freeing to day dream along the way. I would be lying if I said that I never pretended that a bear was chasing me while I was jogging. Or that I’ve acted out a scene from one of my books to see if the dialogue sounded decent.
Some may think it is strange for an adult to play pretend like a child, and that’s okay. It’s important to have realists mixed in with the dreamers. But, just like it’s important for the dreamers to settle down and do something productive, it’s also important for realists to relax and let their imagination take flight.
So take the time to dream! Believe that you are what you never thought you could be!
Do something creative everyday. Remember that you are only as old as you think you are. Whether it be knitting, sewing, photography, writing, or building a castle in the clouds; don’t be afraid to be a dreamer. Even if it’s just for an hour or two.