When Your scared sneaks in
Saturday morning, for the first time, I visited Stone Mountain Park in Stone Mountain Georgia.
Years ago my cousin would frequently post his workouts up Stone Mountain, and since then, I’ve been interested in walking up for some exercise.
And after seeing the beautiful views at the top of the mountain, especially during sunrises and sunsets, I just knew it would be more than just exercise.
And so finally I went.
Alone.
Scared was the furthest thing from my mind..
I’d been walking up the mountain for a good while now.
Up and Up.
Higher and Higher.
Steeper and Steeper.
Heading ever so carefully towards the height of the mountain.
1,683 feet above ground.
And then..
My scared snuck in.
I had gotten to the steepest part of the mountain.
Guardrails had been installed for holding on.
It felt as if resistance was pulling me backwards.
And backwards I would have gone.
1,000 feet backwards.
Had I not been leaning forward.
I’m going up this mountain, no longer all alone.
I have my scared with me now. It snuck in.
I’m beginning to wonder what would happen if I slipped and fell?
Would I be able to catch myself?
How far would I actually fall before I stopped?
Has anyone died climbing this thing?
Why would they offer something like this to the public, unmonitored?
The ground is wet.
Maybe this wasn’t a good idea after all.
I stopped myself while on the mountain.
I stopped to acknowledge my scared.
I stopped to remember all the times my scared snuck in, and how I overcame.
I stopped to breathe, to relax, to gather myself, and remind myself of what’s possible.
To remind myself what’s on the other side of my scared.
And then someone said “I promise, this is it, after this, it’s the top”
At that moment I realized how close I was.
What’s your mountain?
At what point did your scared sneak in?
Do you realize how close you are?
I reached the top of the mountain.
And by the looks of it, you would’ve thought my scared snuck out.
It didn’t.
I just decided what to do with it.
After all, it is my scared.
