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CAREER/EDUCATION
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No matter where I go—I can’t miss it. There is simply no hiding from it. It’s there when I wake up in the morning, I can’t avoid it when I head out to the grocery store, and it shows no sign of disappearing as I head home at the end of the day. Much like that inescapable sensation we experience when faced with a seemingly insurmountable obstacle, Pikes Peak, at just over 14,000 feet, is simply unavoidable.
Currently stationed at Fort Carson, I am greeted by the beauty of the Rocky Mountains every day. Yet, much like the obstacles we face in our personal lives, the mountains here at the base of the post can seem like daunting, unforgiving terrain or an invitation to approach the challenge head on and explore your inner strength.
Whatever your opinion of the song or singer, Miley Cyrus sang it best when talking about the climb.
The Mountains of Iraq
Recently, my husband and I had dinner with some of his former Army buddies. Of the five war veterans my husband had deployed with throughout the years, only he remained on active duty. I sat quietly, listening to them share war stories and reminisce about old times. As they joked and talked, the times they spoke of, though different, had an obvious theme: The experiences they remembered and the moments they appreciated most were the times they faced tremendous obstacles, overcame difficult situations or were downright discouraged.
After one particular story, my husband noted, “Nobody really remembers the story about the time you were released early from duty or when you got an extra day of leave, but they do remember stories about the time you were required to stay at work late for no good reason or trudge through the swamps of Iraq on Christmas —it’s the awful times that we recall.” Though said in passing, I realized how interesting this statement is. While the flat road is good for a relaxing, enjoyable stroll, the mountainous terrain is what challenges us, pushes us, and gives us appreciation for who we are and what we can accomplish.
The Other Side of the Mountain
When I first visited Colorado and saw Pikes Peak, I asked my husband with naïve curiosity, “So, what’s on the other side?” He chuckled and responded, “more mountains.” Though I knew what he meant and that the mountain ranges extended further than I could begin to imagine, I somehow hoped to hear about some destination, some marker or milestone that clearly defined the “other side” of the mountain. Thinking about the vastness of the mountain ranges in that moment, I couldn’t help but feel a bit defeated. Why hike Pikes Peak, like so many adventure-seekers do, if there are just more mountains, even higher mountains, to climb? Years later, I found the answer firsthand… and unexpectedly.
A few years ago, some of my family members decided to come visit Colorado. We narrowed down our list of worthwhile tourist spots and planned several road trips across the state. One of our destinations was the Sand Dunes of Southern Colorado. We started our day early, not realizing that our 4-hour trip was about to double in length before finally arriving!
As we journeyed along, we faithfully followed the directions of my GPS. Slowly, things started to get strange. As we drove, the mountains that had seemed so far away hours ago started to seem eerily close. We began climbing in elevation. Soon, the two-lane highway we were traveling on turned to a one-lane road and then into a dirt path. To this day, I’m not quite sure why we didn’t turn around. Perhaps we kept going due to uncertainty or ignorance, but in large part, I think we were in awe of the journey. We traveled on, encountering a herd of cattle blocking the “road,” what seemed to be a ghost town, and miles of windy roads that led deep into the Sangre de Cristo mountain range.
We were lost, at one point the GPS lost its signal and I was scared; but that day, the journey was far more impactful, far more memorable, than the destination (which we eventually found!).
It was this wonderful, uncertain journey that my family and I laugh about now. Similarly, it is the journey up to the top of Pikes Peak that makes it worthwhile. The view is amazing, but the journey to the top is what we are in awe of.
Your Climb is Different Than Mine
Every year, approximately 15,000 people attempt to climb Pikes Peak. The reason why so many individuals embark on this journey varies from person to person, which means the climb is vastly different for every single person. Additionally, others choose to travel to the top by driving or taking the famous Cog Railroad-same mountain, but different climbs.
What you learn from the climb will be vastly different than what I take away, even if we were to climb the exact same trail at the exact same time. We are all Army wives, but we are all different. My goals, life experiences and what I hope to get from the climb are all factors in what I observe and what I learn about myself. The key is finding out how you are impacted by taking the time to reflect on the experience.
Speaking more specifically about our lives as Army wives, we all know there is no shortage of mountains to climb in everyday life. From deployments to frequent relocations, we need to face these challenges head on to learn from them. By avoiding the mountain, or wanting to make it move as Miley says, we can never appreciate the climb.
There Is Always Another Mountain
Every single mountain you climb challenges you, just as every obstacle you work through and overcome gives you a better understanding of yourself. Like my husband said, there is always another mountain—but those endless other mountains in the distance should not take away from the experience you have climbing your version of Pikes Peak.
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Stacy Swearengen, Certified Career, Education and Adult Learning Coach, and spouse of an active duty soldier, provides military wives with career and education counseling that is tailored to meet the demands of the military lifestyle. Offering a complete range of career counseling services, including resume critiques, mock interviews, job search resources, college decision-making strategies and guidance on using military spouse benefits, Stacy provides telephone coaching to spouses across the world.
All army wives receive a complimentary 30-minute coaching session to determine if career coaching is right for them.
New Website: www.PortableCareerPlanning.com
New Email: Stacy@PortableCareerPlanning.com
Stacy Swearengen
Career and Education
Senior Contributor
stacy@armywifemagazine.com
www.militaryspousecareercoach.com Stacy@militaryspousecareercoach.com
All I Ever Needed to Know,
I Learned from a Miley Cyrus Song
It’s the Journey, Not the Destination, Which Defines Us
by Stacy Swearengen, posted June 2010
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Archives: Career & Education
I imagine the title of my article this issue has raised a few questions—perhaps even some concerns—but before you conclude that I have lost my mind, allow me to explain…
