Only Good at Going Up

Josh Harrisking
October 25, 2012

Josh Harrisking

Lives in: Seattle, Washington
From: Des Plaines, Illinois
Web: http://www.stinkycheesedad.com
Facebook: 823883834

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My son and I stood at the top of a steep hill, covered in roots.  The only way forward was down, and we stood there trying to determine the best route to take to navigate the path down.

My son looked up at me, and simply said “I’m only good at going up.”

He reached up with both arms, “Carry me down.”

The way down is scary.  We focus all our efforts and energies on scaling the next challenge, on moving up, always moving up.  It’s amazing the things we will do to climb…

Leap over a small bush?  Sure

Dodge a slow moving old lady?  Yep.

Tie yourself to a friend?  Why not.

Push a family member out of the way?  Maybe a cousin, or one of those smelly uncles.

We focus so much on the journey up, that we forget that the journey down is inevitable.  Whether the journey down is just failing or growing old….the way down is not something we comprehend.

But it’s a skill that shouldn’t be forgotten.  Failing is something we will all do.  The successful ones will fail more often than the unsuccessful folks…but they will fail fast, and they will move on.  Ready to scale the next hill.

There will be a time when you’ll be standing on the edge of a big challenge.  You’ll be looking at all the roots, rocks, and stumps that could trip you up and turn a failure into a disaster…

It’s at those times it’s great to have your dad around.  Or someone else, that can carry you through to level ground.  We often forget all the help we get from those around us.  The times the parents stepped into help make ends meet for a month.  Or the buddy that hooked you up with a job when you got laid off.  Or the sibling that gave you a place to crash between apartments.

We’ve all been carried down the hill to level ground.  Don’t take that for granted and don’t forget it.

As we reached the bottom of the hill, my son gave me a hug and said “Thanks dad”.  I set him down, and he raced off towards the next hill to climb.

I’m fine carrying him down plenty more steep paths, he’s got plenty of ground to make up before he needs to return the favor.

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