Y’all know I love to compare finances to health and/or travel.
So, today while hiking at Moses Cone in Blowing Rock, North Carolina, I had time to think about how finances are so similar to hiking.
You start down the trail all excited and ready to go.
At some point it starts to get difficult. The grade increases up or down. You have to work harder to stay balanced. The scenery starts to look the same and you find you are focusing more on your aches and pains than on the beauty around you.
Then you reach a place that it breathtakingly beautiful. You rest for a few minutes and just take it in. You may take photos to capture the moment. You start to notice the light breeze and the noises of the country.
When you start again you have a little more energy. It seems easier. Until it does not. Maybe you did not pack enough water. Maybe you are starting to feel hungry. Maybe your shorts are starting to rub holes in your skin. Maybe your feet or joints hurt.
And so the cycle goes until you get back to the parking lot.
Was it worth it? Definitely. You feel strong and accomplished. You have added one more thing to your long list of successes (great to look at when things are really difficult, btw).
ps- this picture is at the lake. The tiny dot I am pointing to is the house Moses Cone built up the mountain. We hiked almost 3 miles to get to the lake at the bottom of the mountain and 2 miles back (it was more of a straight line).