brianchristyburke

Just a Little Further

Added 2024-09-26 12:09:52 +0000 UTC

Last year, my wife and I, along with some friends went to Iceland. It was near the end of our vacation, and we were on a bus tour seeing the various sites, and while the bus does most of the work, you still need to hop out of the bus to look around.

It was the last stop on the tour and we were all feeling exhausted, we'd done plenty of walking before the tour, and every step felt a little harder than the last. The problem was, this stop was at a cliffside. Not only was there plenty more walking, but there was also a serious incline. It was probably less than a half mile to reach the top, but at that point it felt like trying to walk to the Moon.

We'd walk a bit, then pause just to catch our breath, then continue on a little further. Frequently, I'd want to give up. The pain was constant, and I felt like I'd already suffered enough and that there was no need to go on.

However, I also knew that there was going to be a beautiful view once we'd reach the top, so kept pushing myself. We'd take a few more step, then pause for another breather, then go a little further. The progress was slow, but we were making it.

Often in life, it feels like there's no reason to keep going. That the pain is too much to bear, and that giving up feels like the right thing to do, but I encourage you all just to keep taking a few more steps. It might not feel like you're making progress, but as long as you keep moving, you'll eventually get a look at the view.