24: A Mountain Story
How to Dance under Austrian Skies
My latest experience spent in the Austrian mountains was a little different than expected.
Yesterday, I went on a spontaneous outdoor adventure. I grew up in the west of Austria, and my parents are still located there. When I moved back to Germany, I realised that there are plenty of things I took for granted while I was still living with them. We have incredible access to the lake of Constance, plenty of mountains and opportunities to engage in all kinds of sports linked to them.
Speaking for myself, I’m a passionate hiker. There’s a specific route in my previous hometown area that I’ve been eager to do for a while now, and I’m glad I got the chance to finally do it. From the bottom to the top station and back, about 1 ½ hours each way. The weather was great, like a final echo of summer before it’s getting colder again. I took my camera along and was happy to capture some moments of that day.
One reason why I love hiking up mountains is the analogy you can draw to life’s challenges. While you’re in the midst of it, it doesn’t necessarily feel like fun all the time. You’re sweating, you’re out of breath, occasionally unsure of the right direction and quietly wondering when (or if) you’ll arrive. Maybe you’re questioning why the heck you decided to do it in the first place. But then, you’re slowly finding the flow. Not because it presented itself on a silver platter, but because you kept going when you could have given up.
And once you arrive at the top and get to see the breathtaking view, the doubts from earlier turn into understanding. The first exhale as you’re taking in the sights is accompanied by these special feelings we experience after having successfully mastered a challenge. That tired but happy satisfaction. Maybe even a bit of pride. And a sense of relief.
The view after a hike isn’t the only reward. While we’re making our way up, we build stamina, strength, and resilience. We prove to ourselves that we can do hard things if we stay determined, and trust the process, as you say. You never really know what’s behind the next corner, but you know there will be some type of progress bringing you closer to where you want to be. This is why I love it so much.
Yesterday brought the idea that you never really know what’s behind the next corner to another level. I heard the music long before fully arriving at the top station. Normally, we tend to connect hiking with stillness and solitude, so I needed a second to acclimatise when I found myself in front of a crowded dancefloor instead of an empty summit. That’s not necessarily what you would expect on a hike like that – stumbling into a bachata dance party under open skies – but what a beautiful way to conclude our analogy.
There’s a million ways to cope with challenge. We can get lost in a forest of doubt, hyperfocus on all the aspects we’re struggling with and forcefully try to keep things predictable. We can also choose to stay present, do our best with what we have in the given moment, and trust that this is enough to arrive safely at our goal destination. We might not love every second it takes to go up there, and we certainly don’t have to, as long as we stay committed. The reward is always worth it.
We can learn how to dance on top of the mountain.
Carry On:
Which moments in your life leave you with that tired-but-happy-feeling?
This week, allow yourself to look out for them.
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Genuinely what a beautiful analogy and what a great moment to find a dance floor in the mountains.
I am a tiny bit jealous ;)