Just yesterday, a group of us friends planned an early morning hike near the Chattahoochee river just outside of Atlanta, Ga. The weather was pleasant, the scenery was beautiful, and the trail was new to all of us. At the end of hike we all learned a VALUABLE lesson. Our initial plan of starting our hike fell through due to parking issues. With the help of a park ranger, we began our hike on the West Palisades trail about a 10 minute drive from our initial starting point. We had follow the trail along the river until we came to what appeared to be a dead end. Ignoring our map, we decided to go off trail up the mountain. That is when the Challenge and Adventure began.
There was twelve of us plus one dog in our group. We decided to hike up the face of the mountain rather than turn back. It was full of slips, falls, bug bites, and scrapes. We had no clue exactly where we were going just hoping we would get back to the main trail above. We had to rely on each other to get over some tight spots and slippery slopes. We were never in great peril, but it was a little unsettling. No one said it, but I am sure we all had a sense of relief and our egos got a nice boost when we accomplished such a Challenge.
Positive Change can come in a Challenge. Life is similar to our hiking experience. Sometimes we must go off trail to face Challenges that will help us grow. We may slip or get banged up along the way, but the rewards that await can be life changing.
A quick side note. My son fell a couple times on the climb up and leaped a few rocks on the river that seemed far for him. He never gave up and made it. As a result, his belief in himself grew that day. As a parent, I feel my main duty to my children is to Challenge them everyday.
Disclaimer: I am not advocating any crazy or dangerous hikes, stunts, or adventures in the physical sense. However, I do advocate challenging your mind and getting out of your comfort zone.