I wondered what it would be like on top of a mountain when I first drove through the White Mountains one day from our family’s lake house. Looking out the window, some of the mountains were so high up, I had to stick my head out of the window to see the tops as we drove on by. There were so many, more than the eye could see.

Philosophical Engineering

And the top is what we most desire in life. To get to the top, our peak potential. And having dreamed of climbing all the way to the top, I finally made it one day, after a long hike up. The first mountain-top I ever accomplished.

But what I saw wasn’t what I initially expected. There were no trophies for my recent achievement. Nor was there any sort of finish line to cross when I got there.

From the bottom, the point looked so distinct, so defined, that I could trace it with a pencil. I was certain I would see that same point when I got to the top.

But as I searched around, there was no sharp point, or any lines indicating the top. So where was I standing? My expectations were completely different from when I first set eyes on the top. From the bottom, it looked like a well defined point, and at the top, when there was no more ground to be climbed, the immediate surroundings were relatively flat.

And as I sat there trying to put the pieces together, I realized what I had been focusing on was the wrong thing all along. I was so focused on getting to the top, I didn’t look out and see what I had done to get there that made me successful in the first place. And also I was hit with the realization that now I had to get back down!