Something to Think About - When I Get There
When I Get There
How long does it take to climb Mount Everest?
In general, climbing Mount Everest from the bottom to the top is an endeavor that takes 55 days to 70 days. Two or three months. Get to base camp, acclimatize, get used to cold weather, get familiar with the geography of the mountain and the trekking, etc. But that does not count the training and preparation before even heading to Nepal to begin the climbing expedition.
I just rescued a neglected plant. The ten foot tall sad Fiddle Leaf Fig Tree (Ficus Lyrata) was in a tiny four gallon nursery pot. It needed some love and attention. My husband calls it the condominium. “Oh, you’re talking about the condominium.” he says.
It’s the tall “Mt. Everest” of my plants!
An endeavor takes special knowledge, experience, practice and preparation for it to be a successful.
How long does it take to learn another language?
How long does it take to play an instrument really well?
How long does it take to grow lots of corn, potatoes, apples, bananas, and oranges?
If you enjoy it and have passion for it, then it's a happy and satisfying endeavor whether it fails or not. Why? Because it is the journey along the way that creates the happiness and gladness. If it fails, then try again, try a new idea, a new technique, until it succeeds to your own reasonable goals and expectations.
Then the success will take you to the next level of the endeavor.
Fiddle Leaf Fig Tree Leaves
I’m determined to help save this tree!. The red areas indicates that it was being overwatered. The dark spots indicates too much sun hit the leaf.
Have you reached the highest level of your endeavor? How or why not?
Are you enjoying your current endeavor now? Yes? No?
If not, then why are you doing it? For money, for the family, for some future goal?
We always need money. The taxes and insurance companies will never abate. Ask yourself, "Do I really need whatever it is that costs money?".
Family will always love you anyway, no matter what you do or don't do in your endeavors.
Some future goal… why are you thinking ahead? Doing something huge …step by step?
Do you have a habit of always thinking ahead?
Upcoming deadlines, quotas to make, meetings, resolve a problem to move forward, to continue to the future.
The long weekend, the vacation, buying the new car, getting married.
Why?
Do you have meaningless work that exhausts you? What are you living for? What are you working so hard for?
Have you noticed that are we always trying to get somewhere instead of where we are?
We miss the only moment we have access to…which is what is happening now.
Fiddle Leaf Fig Tree Leaves
The Fiddle Leaf Fig Tree likes shade and the soil dry between watering.
Just …STOP…look around you…right now…what do you see? What do you feel? How are you…now?
Do what sparks the light in you. Stop doing meaningless work. The chosen endeavor could be exhausting but it should make you happy in doing it.
Problems become easier to solve when:
You care.
You pay close attention.
Most of all ...you learn as you move forward.
Goals and progress are more attainable when you are happy doing it.
You become better at thinking of …what is happening NOW… instead of always the future. Deadlines become guidelines and not so concrete in a failure to make the goal. Always adjust your own guidelines for NOW to be able to continue to strive forward without remorse or impeding your own joy and happiness. This makes "smooth sailing" and freedom of encumbrances.
The Fiddle Leaf Fig Tree Leaf
Why is it called a fiddle leaf fig tree? The leaves have the shape of a fiddle or violin. This leaf has sun burn spots. Unfortunately the spots will stay and not go away.
So how long does it take to climb Mount Everest? It really doesn't take two or three months.
It takes years of knowledge, training, practice, and preparations to climb Mount Everest.
When I get there… I'll be there…would be my answer.
How long does it take to learn another language? When someone can understand what you say.
How long does it take to play an instrument really well? When the music played sounds beautiful.
How long does it take to grow lots of corn, potatoes, apples, bananas, and oranges? When there is enough for yourself and for everyone.
Fiddle Leaf Fig Tree Leaf
This leaf has a lot of red on it. It doesn’t like a lot of water.
The leaves turn red when there is too much water. The red areas will go away and become green again when it gets the right amount of dryness and right amount of water in the soil.
Keep on the look-out for an update on the tree’s progress!
All my life I've always kept the sight of Mount Everest in my mind and its geography map on my wall in my office.
Why?
Because life is a challenge and hard work!
I would look at the map and plan a route through the valley, the Khumbu Ice Fall, South Col, Hillary Step, the North Face, and so on. If someone can reach to the top of Mount Everest, then so can I.
Not literally though. I don't like the cold and am afraid of the altitude sickness. I live at sea level and love the warm climate of Florida. The map is just a reminder of my route in life. Sure there were hard parts to climb, there were avalanches, and sudden detours in my life. But the top was there. It is still there, so I keep going.
I would say to myself "Keep striving for the top of Mount Everest no matter what or how long it takes! Do it!"
So how long does it take to climb Mount Everest? When I get there!
My Fiddle Leaf Fig Tree has a new home in the shade and in a much bigger pot. Where’s the condominium? Or is it the skyscraper? It’s where I can keep an eye on it and take good care of it. I’ll give an updated post in a few months on its happy progress and in good health.
