The Hard Stuff

When was the last time you did something you thought you couldn't do? If it takes you awhile to think of something, maybe it's time. Since my strokes in July of 2023, I've kind of believed that there were many things I couldn't do...and I had a good reason! Did I have limitations, yes. Did I give up before I tried something, occasionally. 
I don't want to do that anymore. Yes, I still have things that are not the same as they were before the strokes, but I'm going to try harder to do the hard things. When I was in Africa last month, the group I was with started climbing this mountain.

I saw the mountain and said, "I'll just wait here". I sat down and enjoyed the view.

It was an amazing sight, even though I was not even halfway up the mountain. But I kept having this nagging thought, "what am I missing by stopping?" Could I really keep going? That phrase "you never know until you try" was in my head, so I tried. I literally just put one foot in front of the other and took it step by step.

I stopped when I needed to, but kept climbing. And I made it!!

We all sat up there, listened to our guide tell an amazing historical story, and watched the sunset. I would've missed all that. I pushed a little more and got an incredible blessing because of it.

Let's not miss out on something without even trying. Shall we hold each other accountable? This year, I'm leaning more into Philippians 4:13 which says "I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.