Mountains

This was a particularly rocky week. Numerous curveballs and conflicts threw me off my game. One particularly challenging morning saw four major stressful situations arise before I had my first sip of coffee. Yet on that day and on every other, I managed to compartmentalize those conflicts, accept life's inherent unfairness and unpredictability and have a semblance of a good day anyway.

I was in part inspired by a Haitian proverb that I had just read in this book by Oliver Burkeman. It goes, “Beyond the mountains, more mountains.” It is part of a chapter titled Develop a taste for problems: On never reaching the trouble-free phase that struck a chord with me.  

Consider this. The Boston Red Sox ripped my heart out all throughout my youth. Then as an adult they won four championships in a span of fourteen years. I have a file filled with rejection letters from publishers but have published four books. I have voted in ten presidential elections. Five times the candidate I supported won. Five times they lost. I have generally been blessed with good health but have on numerous occasions been knocked on my ass or had a significant health scare. I have made new friends while also having dear friends I’ve know for decades die. Financially I have done pretty well but have had months or stretches of times that were touch and go. I have had gut-wrenching arguments with almost everyone I have ever loved, but way more moments of extreme joy with them. I have generally been a pretty happy person but have had bouts of anxiety or stress that have lasted hours, days, or weeks at a time. And so on and so on. 

I’m not sure there is anything such as a “trouble-free” life. There are trouble free days, maybe even weeks or longer. But inevitably problems arise. Some born from our own decisions, while others caused by the vagaries of the outside world. 

Acknowledging that “beyond mountains there are more mountains” provides some long-term perspective and short-term advice. In the long-term it reminds us that there is always something potentially out there that will be difficult for us to face, something that perhaps induces dread when we come to it; feeling like an insurmountable climb. Yet, in the short-term, it tells us that we have climbed similar mountains before. That we are capable of doing hard things. It also suggests that when we do reach any of life’s mountain tops, we should enjoy the view and find confidence in our ability to climb. Perhaps most of all, try to enjoy the walk both on the way up and on the way down the best we can.  

Knowing that in the wise words sung by Anna in Frozen 2, the only thing we can ever do, is the “next right thing.”  One action, one step at a time.  

Recommendation of the Week:  Burkeman’s book has an awful title, Meditation for Mortals, but its subtitle more accurately speaks to some wisdom you’ll find within its pages, “Four Weeks to Embrace your Limitations and Make Time for What Counts.” Worth a read.

Consider sharing this email with someone staring at a mountain.