Inspiration to Not Give Up

Terri Ann Flint at Trolltunga, Norway

Trolltunga

In the summer of 2015, I visited Norway with friends. One of the activities we planned was to go on a hike in the mountains, just a casual hike. Thinking more about shopping and less about climbing, I only brought tennis shoes and a light jacket. The night before the hike, some fellow travelers mentioned that the trail was still covered with snow. Being from snow country and being a moderately seasoned hiker, this information passed over my head, and at 5 am I was ready to go with a light lunch, a walking stick and hopes that we could get back to the hotel spa by late afternoon.  

Trolltunga, named after a jutted rock that looks like a troll’s tongue, is high above a glacier lake in the Norwegian mountains. It is rated a difficult hike of 15.8 miles, ascending 2624 feet. Generally, it takes 10-12 hours to hike in the summer with steep climbing over stone steps, and gravel trails. Yes, this information would have been very helpful BEFORE the hike.

It was the hardest, most strenuous experience of my life. Given that the trails were not graveled, but snow-covered, each step from start to finish was slippery and wet in my tennis shoes. I was warm from exertion until the rain began to fall, making conditions distressing and dangerous.

In the first half-mile, I could turn back, and each step told me to do so. But at that half-mile marker, I made the decision to not quit and focused instead on how I was going to do the impossible. 

I wasn’t convinced why I wanted to see Trolltunga, but I was committed to meet the challenge. I set a pace of small steps I could do without sliding. I set mini goals of where would be my next rest stop and I began to look back to mark how far I had come. I started to savor the breath-taking beauty of the country (because I knew I would never be back). And I talked to those around me going up and down the trail, asking the most renowned question of hiking, “How far is it?”

We reached the remarkable Trolltunga around 3 pm in the afternoon. It was a short stay as the hike back would be in the dark. I reached the bottom of the trail around midnight. Soaked in rain and mud, every muscle spent, I collapsed in the car, unable to move. 

Remember Trolltunga

I still have mud from the trail on the scarf I wore that day. It won’t wash out. The scarf, along with the photos, are proof I can do hard things, really, really, hard things. Today, in moments of fear and doubt, I just remember my lessons of Trolltunga.

Inspiring Quotes

Here are my favorite quotes that inspire me to not give up. They correspond with the six steps I shared in last week’s blog. I hope they encourage you to keep going.

Remember why you want to achieve the goal in front of you.
“Never give up on something that you can’t go a day without thinking about.” –Winston Churchill

Recommit to the goal.
“When you are powered by a clear purpose, there is little you cannot do.” –Margie Warrell

Realign your expectations.  
“The expert at anything was once a beginner.” –Helen Hayes
“I’ve failed over and over again in my life and that is why I succeed.” –Michael Jordan
“I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.” –Thomas Edison

Recalibrate. 
“Success is the sum of small efforts-repeated day-in and day-out.” –Robert Collier
“It does not matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop.” –Confucius
“If you get tired, learn to rest, not to quit.”  –Banksy

Recognize Progress.
“Until further progress, celebrate everything.”  –Anonymous
“The Lord loves effort.”  –Russell M. Nelson

Reach Out
“Magic happens when you do not give up, even though you want to. The universe always falls in love with a stubborn heart.” –Anonymous

“Doing it alone makes no sense when others are anxious to share what they’ve learned to make your path easier.” –Terri Anne Flint