This particular fave is being brought back as part of our summer “Best of” Series. Enjoy!
…While working to place my left toe behind my right ear and attempting to stretch my other extremities toward the far wall as directed, our yoga instructor serenely stated, “Remember: It’s not how high you go, it’s how far.”
Once again, a life lesson struck me as my body pleaded for relief. I never cease to be amazed at how moments of epiphany manage to locate me during times of self-imposed contortion. However, they do. While my classmates generally ponder the energy in the room, I find myself drifting off to the land of ethereal revelations.
So, I pondered the weighty proverb, then asked myself: How many times in life have I chided myself for not reaching the heights to which I felt I should have attained by now? When, perhaps, I may have missed the point of seeing just exactly how far I’ve really come. And, then, to accept that realization. Why, is it we have to climb higher and higher, when in reality, true success might just lie in the progress we’ve made in the journey? Naaawwww. We’re all about conquering and obtaining. Right?
In all seriousness, some people’s lives sky rocket with success, and we refer to it as “Look how far they’ve gone!” Yet in real matters of life, have they made true personal progress? I happen to know a few mega-successful people that have managed to achieve amazing heights, yet at a severe cost. They’ve gone super high. But I am not so sure they’ve gone very far.
So, I took stock of what I felt I should have accomplished. Then I took a good look at the wonderful things I have had the privilege to do—as well as the wonderful opportunities that have come my way in life. And it made me smile. These “things” most likely wouldn’t appear very high in some people’s eyes, but they seem pretty far to me.
If you’re feeling a bit low of late, or that you haven’t quite hit the mark, take a good look backward. Notice where you started. Then see just how far it is that you have come. I’ll bet it’s a lot farther than you’ve thought, or even imagined.
So, for this week, when you’re tempted to focus on how high, stop for a brief moment and take notice rather, of how far. It might just put a smile on your face.
Just my thoughts,
S.
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