Always remember how far you have come

I found this whilst procrastinating my assignment (again) on Pinterest this afternoon and it just hit me - metaphorically slapped me around the face if you will. I spend far too much time worrying about where I want to go in life, what I want to do, who I want to be. Instead of stressing about the future and how far I still have to go, why don't I admire how far I have come? 

Imagine it as if climbing a mountain - something you will never find me doing, but still. When you pause half way up to rest, you don't look around you and think "Gah, I'm not at the top yet and this view here is so unattractive". Instead, you'd probably recognise how far you have to go, but you would also look at how far you've come. You'd give yourself a big gee up, look around and take in the awe of the beauty surrounding you. Because if you'd have stayed at the bottom of the mountain you would have never seen the wonders you're taking in right at this very moment. If you hadn't taken your first steps up this mountain there would be no way of you reaching the top. You quite simply have to start somewhere, and then every step from there on out is an achievement in itself. As I've said many, many times - just keep taking those baby steps. 

Moving away from that beautiful (I'm far too modest, I know) analogy, in my life in general I have conquered so much and battled so many demons. And you know what, I'm still here and I am still fighting. With every step forward it gets easier and the view gets better and better. 

In reality, life is no mountain - more like a never ending treadmill on steep hill mode. There is no end point; we fight and fight until we forget that we are fighting and we just start living. And by that point we don't even realise that's what is happening. There's a difference between looking behind you to help you admire your current view, and simply walking with the shackles of the past tied around your ankles dragging you down. 

So when you think that you cannot keep going, just remember how far you have already come. Don't ever doubt your own strength or your determination. Life is whatever you allow it to be.