The Mountain Climber
There was once a man who dreamed of climbing the tallest mountain in the land. He spent months planning his ascent, gathering the best equipment and provisions. He studied maps of the mountain and plotted his route to the summit.
On the day of his climb, he marched confidently to the base of the mighty peak, eager to start. But as he traveled that first day, the mountain did not seem to get much closer. His packs grew heavy, his steps labored. That night in his tent, the summit seemed as far away as when he started.
Disheartened, the man decided to turn back.
“This mountain is too vast to conquer,”
he lamented.
“I will never reach the top.”
As he headed down the mountain, he passed an old woman walking up. She was bent forward; eyes fixed a few steps ahead. In her hand was a walking stick, and on her back, a small satchel.
“You will not reach the top looking at the summit,”
she said.
“Keep your eyes ahead only a few steps at a time. Before you know it, you will arrive.”
The man realized his mistake. He had thought too big, forgetting to focus on the present. While dreaming of the end, he had overlooked the journey.
