Ummm... Excuse Me But You're in My Way

“I have places to go, people to see and things to do. I don’t have the energy to climb you and I don’t have the time to go around you. I know you look nice and green and though some people may find you challenging, I am not one of them. Mountain, I would rather you just get out of my way, otherwise, I am going to have to knock you down!”

Definition:

Mountains…Those visible and sometimes invisible barriers that arise just when we think we have it all together.

As certain as the sun rises in the east and sets in the west, there will be mountains in our lives. If we walk long enough, talk long enough, live and breathe long enough, we are going to run into those dreaded mountains and when you do, be prepared. Some of them are so treacherous they should be on the FBI’s most wanted list because they come armed and extremely dangerous. However, some of them aren’t quite as big as we make them out to be and can be easily navigated if we stop magnifying them. Those smaller mountains do pose a threat but are less imposing. I like to refer to them as hills. They are like mountains, yet not as tall or steep but if we let them, some of them will slow us down, nevertheless.

Yes, this world would be a much better place in which to live if we could look at those mountains and say “move out of my way” and they would disappear. But the truth of the matter is there are going to be some within our control but there are also going to be those we have to climb; especially when we are coming out of a valley. Those mountains always seem higher than they are, but believe me, they can be climbed-but you have to be patient and a lot of times, you will need a helping hand. The tricky part is figuring out which mountains you can knock down, which ones you need to climb and which ones you should take some extra time and go around.

What are your mountains? What is it that keeps you from realizing your greatness and prevents you from walking into your destiny? For a lot of us, it’s the people we surround ourselves with. Yes, I said it and I’m going to say it again so you won’t think I made a mistake. FOR A LOT OF US, THE PEOPLE WE SURROUND OURSELVES WITH PROVE TO BE OUR BIGGEST MOUNTAINS!!!

Think about that ‘friend” you have had in your life forever; the same one who never has anything positive going on in their life. Every time they come around, something is wrong. Their bills are past due, their pet just died, their children are bad and their job is the pits. Whatever the problem is, they are never happy! Furthermore, they don’t want you to be happy either, so they’ll look for the negative in your life, and gladly bring it to your attention. Have you ever noticed how tired you are after dealing with this person? Can you say transferring negative energy? This is one that you control. Say “MOUNTAIN, GET OUT OF MY WAY,” because misery loves company but you don’t have to answer the door.

Now what about the person who you look up to and admire because of their success? They seem to have it all together and it’s always good to be around people who are upward bound. Yet, they only seem to be encouraging to you when things are going well for them or they can take credit for your success? Think about it, where are they when something good is going on in your life? Are they by your side with congratulations and best wishes or are they there cautioning you not to be too optimistic? More than likely they are there trying to rain on your parade or either trying to steal your thunder. That’s because it’s OK for your light to shine as long as it doesn’t shine any brighter than theirs. They are trying to keep you beneath them because they see your potential for greatness. Come on now, you can’t outdo them!! What are you thinking about? Can you say Hater? This one, you control. Say “MOUNTAIN, MOVE BEFORE I KNOCK YOU DOWN,” and instead of looking up to them, look up to God. He is Worthy, they aren’t.

OK now what about the person who makes your heart palpitate? Is it your spouse, significant other or someone you are pursuing? How does that person make you feel when you are around them? Do you feel smart, beautiful and relaxed in their presence or does that person say and do things to make you feel like you need to be fixed? Do you now feel differently about yourself than you used to? Did you use to like your thick thighs now suddenly they are thunder thighs? Does your short, sassy haircut now make you look like a man? Is your lean frame now just skin and bones?

Are you allowing someone’s opinion of you to influence the way you feel about yourself? So what if you’ve gained a little bit of weight. There are some things we all need to work on, but if a person truly loves you, they will find a way to help you work on your problem areas without making you feel any less of a person. Can you say Insecurity? Take one trip to the spa, nail shop and hair salon, come out looking fly and Tell that mountain to make way for a diva! This person knows if you feel too good about yourself, you might just find somebody worthy…

People are such funny creatures. Sometimes they can make you feel like the luckiest person in the world. They will support you, love and encourage you but on the other hand, sometimes their insensitivity and insecurities have the ability to bring us to our knees. Every one God brings into our lives was not meant to stay in our lives. Sometimes they are just there to teach and move on. We cannot hang on to them because they become mountains. We can hold on to them and allow their negativity to bring us down or we can feed them with a long handled spoon and not allow them to influence the way we live and think. It’s simple.

Why waste our valuable time on toxic people when we have enough real mountains to climb? Things like war, gasoline prices, inflation, disease, sickness and homelessness are real mountains that people confront every single day. These are things we have to take our time and climb over or walk that extra mile to get around. When unexpected things happen in our lives that stagger or cripple us, we don’t have the ability to say, Mountain; get out of my way, because it’s just not going to happen. That is when we have to climb. When we are confronted with illness, we have to climb. Though the road gets rough, we have to climb a little bit every day. Otherwise that mountain will keep getting taller and taller.

I might add that it helps tremendously to have someone climbing with you when you’re going through but sometimes our mountains are ours to climb but there’s no law that says you can’t have someone waiting for you at the top… If you are a person who has made it to the top of the mountain, reach down or at least throw down a rope. You would be amazed at the effect of a few words of encouragement.

In today’s society some mountains are so big and dangerous that we have to come together as a people and form a relay team to scale that monster! That way when one person gets tired, they can tag the next person and they can take the next leg of the journey. Don’t let the little hills of pride; prejudice and selfishness stop you from being on that relay team. I don’t know about you, but I am working out every day. I am exercising my mind, my body and my soul because I want to be ready when my hand is tagged.