When You Think You Can’t Do Something, Be Prepared to Surprise Yourself

Banish those Negative Thoughts!

The negative thoughts were battling for attention in my head. You can’t do this! How much farther? Are we there yet? I even said some of these out loud which was greeted by laughs and encouragement from the group. We were seven women and one child on a hike in the Blue Hills Mountains. We were hiking the Red Dot trail. It was an experience that gave me new insight into the power of persistence.

It was my friend who had suggested the hike. She had gone a week earlier and was hooked. We were already working out together, so she suggested I join her for the next Saturday morning’s hike. I was hesitant but decided to give it a go. I assumed since I was a newbie, that we would take an easy trail. I was wrong. The Red Dot Trail put my entire body to the test.

It was 7:30 on a Saturday morning. The sun was already a burning ball of brightness in the sky. While the humidity was still low, I could feel the heat as I met everyone in the parking lot. The leader of the group, Belle, introduced herself and the other hikers. My friend arrived with her son in tow who looked barely awake. By 7:45, we began our climb.

At first, it was easy. There were some stone steps that helped us up the trail. Soon, however, the steps became a loose collection of rocks, overgrown roots, and bushes. The trail became steeper and steeper. I felt my body beginning to sweat. I had worn a lightweight long-sleeved shirt and workout pants. I had on some thick Nike sneakers sans socks. I thought my outfit prepared me for the woods. I was wrong about that too.

After hiking for about fifteen minutes, my breathing became ragged. I was drenched in sweat. I was gulping down water like it was going out of style. Belle cautioned me to take sips. Sorry, Belle, a sista needs her water! My friend’s son, an energetic ten-year-old, hopped and skipped over the rocks with ease. I envied his energy. I felt every bit of my weight as I willed my legs to continue onward.

I couldn't do it, I told myself. Who did I think I was? How dare I climb a mountain! But I kept going, stopping every so often to catch my breath and drink some water. Belle encouraged first-timers to take short breaks during the hike. I eagerly followed those instructions. Finally, we reached the halfway point of our climb.

We were on a smooth, tar-covered road. This was the road used by bikers. A few zipped by us as we took a break. Our goal was to reach the top of the mountain and see the observatory. After our break, we began the second half of our climb. The rocks were larger and it was harder to find the red dots that gave the trail its namesake. We relied more on Belle to guide us.

The trail became less cohesive and more dangerous. Loose rocks rolled down the hill. Tree branches and thick roots hampered our steps. Part of the trail was muddy from the previous night’s rain. Our sneakers made squishing sounds as we stepped on wet grass, leaves, and twigs. There was nothing to hold onto but moist boulders that required us to be extra cautious.

A young man and his mother were traveling back down as we climbed up. The older woman saw the pain on my face and gave me an encouraging smile. “You can do it!” she said as she passed me. I nodded and gave her a weak smile in return. I felt my heart pounding in my chest. My clothes were sticking to my skin. I longed for a hot shower and a hearty breakfast. All I could do at the moment was take long sips of water and keep on climbing.

“We’ve made it to the Selfie Station!” shouted Belle. My friend looked at me and said, “We’re here! The observatory is behind the Selfie Station.” I couldn’t believe my ears. We had made it to the top of the mountain! More importantly, I had made it to the top of the mountain! Every fiber of my being was on fire. I was smelly and sweaty. But there I stood, taking pictures at the Selfie Station with the other women. We posed for a group photo and headed for the observatory.

It had all been worth it to see the view from the top of the observatory. It was an old stone building. The structure looked over a hundred years old. But it was solid as we climbed three flights of stairs to reach the top. We looked out and could see the city in the distance, shimmering lakes, and the forest below. It was a beautiful sight. After taking several pictures, we left the observatory and headed back down the mountain.

My entire body ached, but I was in a great mood. I had climbed a mountain! Despite the negative thoughts and my occasional verbal complaints, I had made it up the Red Dot Trail. I hadn’t given up. I kept going until I reached the top. My reward was the incredible view from the observation deck. I had met new people who encouraged me along the way. I surprised myself in the best possible way. Perseverance pays off and now I’m hooked on hiking. I can’t wait to tackle the next hike and any other challenge I face.