Remember the Struggle

I recently went on a hike. The climb was not as rough, but a mountain is a mountain. The view from the top looked breathtaking, and the rush of accomplishment was even more fulfilling. Despite the size of the mountain, I felt victorious. So successful that for a minute, I forgot the struggle I faced while climbing the mountain. As I looked onto the horizon, I saw the ocean, I saw houses, people, cars, and guess what? Even bigger mountains that were yet to be climbed! Mountains with greater challenges and more rigorous in nature designed to push me to my limits.

Much like the hike, the journey towards my success has been the same. Standing for pictures, having articles dedicated to me, and flaunting my successes has been all so amazing, but what many have not seen is the rough, ugly, and messy climb that got me to where I am. That is the reason I am writing this today. The path to success is not a bed of flowers, and it isn’t the final destination. When I reached the top of the path, everything was beautiful, and I could see better than what I was able to comprehend before the journey began. Among the many wonders that I experienced, I came to an understanding that this peek reviled the many other adventures that lay ahead of me, just like the other mountains I saw.

Many times, in your life, when you are at this point, you will attract a lot of attention. Spectators who are there to draw from the energy of success that you radiate. Some will even confuse you with their amusement to your success, and as you get lost in the high of the moment, you will turn to forget the climb, the ugly, and the messy parts that got you to where you are. There lies in that moment, a lesson that one must never forget: “Do not forget the climb, because despite the beautiful peek, it was the struggle, the ugly, and the messy that has tooled you for the next success.”

If you do not invest in harnessing these tools, you will get carried away with false expectations that you created while receiving praise from people who are merely spectators to your achievements. For me, success wasn’t a paved road. It wasn’t always smiles and laughter, and it sure wasn’t pretty. As a minority, I had the blessing of always fighting a little extra hard to earn my stripes. Most days were filled with anxiety for the future and uncertainty of whether I would finish strong or wondering if the world was right about a small, insignificant person like me? I often felt alone and afraid. Most of the leaps in my life had to be made with fear in one hand and hope in another. I had to move forward, holding both of them together and still put on a show of a lifetime as gracefully as possible when the occasion demands.

However, the scariest thing I have had to do, and probably will continue to do, is to walk through the darkest parts alone. You learn really quickly that you will not find anyone, but God, around during these parts of the climb. The ugly, and the messy parts don’t sell easy to the world we live in, but those are the parts that made me stronger. They helped me understand that I am a survivor and a fighter born to punch through my limitations. You see, if you punch something long enough, you are bound to change it.

 It was not pretty when I had to lose weight, when I had to fight depression and anxiety, and it definitely was not pretty taking tests after tests to get my degrees. Most, if not all, people will stand to cheer your success, but they won’t run the marathon with you. It is far more interesting to appreciate the final product, but most people do not care for the production line of costs, sacrifice, and hard work that went towards making it all happen.

That is why it pays to not forget the climb. Because when you reach the top, you will see other mountains in front of you, and until your time here on earth is done, it is your purpose to climb all the ones set in your path. Success is a journey without end. So, remember the tools you develop from each climb because no matter how big the mountain, a mountain is still a mountain.