WOW, Mike! What magnificence I see in your words! Your descriptions of these three summits!

This past Spring I did something quite remarkable for me. I climbed a 44 foot rock climbing wall. It was time to graduate from my Coaches Training Program and become Certified. Our certificates were at the top of the Tower, and one of us had to retrieve them.

I figured I would be down on the ground, clapping and cheering on one of my more athletic fellow coaches. That was my normal, cushy comfy mode.

I put on the equipment, thinking that was a huge accomplishment.

It came my turn and up I went. I am incredibly strong, but I was following my friend up, and it was nerve wracking having her on the wall above me. She asked to come down, and even though I was a fraction away from my next hold, I decided to come down as well.

As soon as I hit the terra firma, I knew I wanted to try again.

I had a different person on the ballet (or is it Ballay Mike? Not sure how it is spelled). When I got to the first of four platforms, I knew I was going all the way and the only thing that would stop me was falling off the wall, missing a hold somehow.

I was keenly aware of my partner, who was "balleting" me. I would ask the people on the ground, "which hold is best for me to try?" and I would feel my partner assisting me as I tired, reaching towards the top.

On each platform I would say a short prayer, sing some of a favorite hymn and cry a little before starting out again.

I never once looked towards the ground. I listened and looked ahead, up and up and up I went. I used my forearms more than my legs....which I did not even notice until I was on my way back down the wall after retrieving the pesky certificates.

As soon as I was on the ground and accepting amazed hugs from my fellow coaches, the man on the ballet said, "So, what are you doing next?!" I almost said, "I'm going to Disneyland!" like Super Bowl quarterbacks on commercials, but instead I said, "Anything I ever imagined and more!"

> Friends... The view is indescribable... The
> feelings you get are euphoric... There is no
> way to desribe it. Standing atop of these
> peaks can only be experienced by being
> there. Reading books and articles only
> alludes to it...

***You can say that again! It is positively incredible! Blasting through years of false beliefs, negative attitudes from others....

>Once you overcome all there is to
> be standing alone atop your peak... You have
> finally experienced what life is about.

Thanks, Mike, for reminding me......

With Purpose and Passion,

JULIE


Onward and Upward!