On life’s journey, we often rush about, eager to hop on any express train to swiftly reach our predetermined destinations. We’re accustomed to gazing into the distance, yet we frequently overlook the path beneath our feet. Yet hiking, this most ancient and fundamental art of movement, has re-taught me in a simple yet profound way the truths forgotten by our fast-paced lives. It reminds me that true arrival lies in the process of each step.
Lesson One: Patience and Accumulation. Standing at the mountain’s base, gazing up at the towering peak, one often feels daunted, as if it were an unreachable destination. But hikers understand: the only way forward is to break that grand goal into the step before us, then the next, and the next. Without worrying excessively about the distance remaining, we focus solely on taking each step firmly. When one step is solid, the next follows naturally. This mirrors our lives—no grand dream or challenging project can be achieved overnight. What it demands is precisely this patience and persistent accumulation, step by step. When I stopped anxiously checking the track map for remaining kilometers and immersed myself in the act of walking, I unexpectedly looked up one day to find the summit within arm’s reach.
Lesson Two: Embrace Imperfection. Mountain trails are never smooth. They feature slippery mud, sharp pebbles, steep slopes that leave you breathless, and confusing forks in the path. I used to detest mud—it would soil my brand-new hiking boots. But walking time and again taught me that resistance and complaints won’t smooth the path; they only drain your energy. I learned to embrace it—wearing slip-resistant shoes, stepping cautiously, even admiring the charming fungi sprouting beside the mud. This taught me that life, like mountain trails, is full of uncontrollable “rough patches.” Rather than cursing the storms, it’s better to learn to adjust your posture in the rain, coexist with imperfection, and discover unique scenery along the way.
Lesson Three: The Abundance of Simplicity. Carrying dozens of pounds of gear on a long trek gives you a fresh perspective on what your body truly needs. Here, a sip of sweet spring water, a piece of energy-boosting chocolate, or a patch of shade to rest under become immense blessings. Material possessions are stripped to the bare minimum, yet the threshold for happiness drops. Many of the material comforts we chase daily feel utterly redundant in this moment. Hiking taught me to distinguish between “needs” and “wants,” revealing that true abundance lies not in how much we possess, but in how deeply we experience. Spiritual freedom and fulfillment far surpass the accumulation of material possessions.
Lesson Four: Respect Your Own Pace. On mountain trails, others will inevitably pass you by. At first, this stirs anxiety, prompting an unconscious urge to quicken your stride—only to burn out swiftly. Later, I learned that everyone has their own unique physical capacity and pace. What matters is finding your own sustainable stride, not blindly chasing others. Life is much the same. We too easily fall into comparing ourselves to others, disrupting our own rhythm. Hiking taught me that true success lies in following your inner compass, steadily climbing toward your own summit at your own pace.
These lessons, learned step by step, have long become part of my daily life. They grant me greater patience when facing challenges, deeper acceptance in adversity, a renewed appreciation for simplicity in a world of material excess, and a steadier commitment to my true self amid the whirlwind of social comparisons. The path continues to unfold beneath my feet, and the wisdom gained from hiking will accompany me through every journey life has to offer.
