Does it feel all uphill?
Does it feel all uphill?
Four tips to help keep you going.
Many things in my life have felt steeply uphill recently. As I was thinking about how to keep on going, I found myself reflecting on two recent situations.
The first one is a literal hill, well, a ravine. While we were on holiday, Julian and I decided to walk the Barranco del Inferno. It is one of the most challenging walks in southern Tenerife. The path is about 6.5 km, and it gains 1,676 feet. As we arrived and collected our compulsory helmets, the gentleman in the kiosk looked at me and said kindly, ‘You don’t look very agile; I will give you walking poles.’ I had to work hard not to be offended, but I graciously accepted.
And, oh boy, I was glad I did. The route was challenging, and my current fitness levels meant that had I not accepted the poles, I would not have made it. This brings me to tip number one.
Accept help
Getting over my pride and using the poles enabled me to be successful and avoid injury. I often want to be independent and do things for myself. This is evidently a trait I have had since childhood. I will keep this tip front and centre, and in future hard times, I won’t just accept help if it’s offered, but I’ll ask for it.
Don’t rush
While I’m confessing my flaws, here’s another. I’m not very patient; I want to get things done yesterday. The route to the waterfall at the end of the gorge left me with no alternative but to pause, to breathe! It’s good to rest along the way to an important destination. Getting there is more important than speed. It did not matter that we were one of the last to make it. Taking it easy ensured I was able to enjoy the endpoint.
I have also been considering training Barney, our 16-month-old border collie. It is so challenging. I have consistently spent time with him on every morning walk, practicing getting him to sit, wait, and allow me to put his lead on. I thought we had it cracked. I let him off the lead in the big, soggy dog field this morning. He had a whale of a time playing with another border collie. As it was time to go, I confidently called the command ‘sit,’ and he ran!
I spent the next half hour trying to get close enough to him to put him on the lead. When the other dog left the field, he came to me, played our usual game, and sat perfectly. By this point, I was very muddy and frustrated. This brings me to tip three.
Be gracious to yourself and others.
I was chuntering about what I should have done differently and wishing Barney had behaved better. Then, I took a few deep breaths (a habit I have been cultivating recently). I decided to be kind to myself. After all, I have never trained a border collie before. I also told myself to go easy on Barney, as he’s still a puppy. As we travel hard roads, we need sensible expectations and grace for slips and trips.
And now my final tip.
Remember why you started.
Whether you are looking for a beautiful view, a sense of achievement, or a well-behaved dog who can have fun in any environment, keeping the end in mind will motivate you to achieve your goal. It will keep you putting one foot in front of the other.
Have you completed any difficult journeys? Is your current path rocky? Please do share your thoughts and comments with me. You can do that here:
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