Member-only story
Strength Rising Within
The mountain doesn’t look so daunting anymore
The steep incline feels almost welcoming
The thorned bushes, jagged rocks, and occasional red, white, and black striped snake do little to faze me
I make it a game, jumping forward and around them as if I was a frog around lilypads, my drawstring bag bouncing on my slightly hunched back
I can’t see the other side of the mountain — maybe there isn’t even one?
The peak is hidden by a misty, hauntingly beautiful fog
But I don’t look back, because I already know how far I’ve come
Instead, I look to my side at how little and insignificant it all is…and stunning
I move to adjust my sunglasses on the top of my head, tangled into my thin brown hair and laugh at the inconvenience
A moment of doubt fills me as the light dims, bringing strange splashes of color to my horizon
Do I have enough air in my lungs, strength in my burning thighs, and will in my flushed face to push forward?
Am I far enough if I already feel this tired?
This isn’t Mt. Everest or one of those mountains everyone talks about being really hard
But it still feels hard
And I’m right
I could have gone in circles forever, driving myself crazy for not having scaled this mountain sooner
But I finally did it
I decided to do what I knew I always wanted, bit by bit without knowing what it will be like
No matter how long it takes, I’m proud of you
