One Apple A Day #659 - a long trail
Yesterday, I did some trekking with a friend. We walked for a few hours on an unexpectedly steep trail. As always, I'm amazed by the amount of learning and discovery that a walk in nature can unlock. Anyway, we left early in the morning with plenty of enthusiasm. I've been looking forward to this for quite a while. The first meters has been effortless. My legs were fine, my heart beating normal, and my breathing relaxed. One kilometre, two kilometres. All good, we were walking in a beautiful autumn scenario within the woods, the mountains immersed in the November mist. 2,999 meters and I feel good. Un meter later, fatigue arrived. Like a little shock running through the thigh, a bump in my heartbeat, the breath a little louder. From that moment, the walk shifted and became tougher and tougher until we finished our excursion and came back to the car.
Would you say that the reason for the fatigue was the meter 3,000? That if would skip that meter, I would have any problem and maybe walk easily for hours? I'm sure you won't say that. Obviously, fatigue was just manifesting at that point but has been building up in all the meters before.
Yet, how many time in life, we focus on one event and forget the journey that led to that moment? We think some people become successful overnight ignoring the years of hard work they put in to get there. Something or something falls apart for what looks like a small push, and we overlook the long trail of small cracks that have been manifesting for a long time.
"Breakthrough moments are often the result of many previous actions, which build up the potential required to unleash a major change." - James Clear
That's why it's essential to take care of your habits. Being aware that the journey to the top is a long one and every single step matters.