Seoul, South Korea, is a city as bright and festive as Manhattan at night. But Manhattan misses out on one of Seoul’s greatest charms—the huge mountain right in the middle of the city. Mt. Namsan sticks out as a natural element in a densely urbanized setting, offering city folks the opportunity to go hiking after a five-minute walk from their apartments. North Seoul Tower welcomes climbers at the peak. Like a lighthouse in a neon sea, it attracts the eye with its brilliant glow.
At the base of Mt. Namsan, I began a brutal trek up all one million steps (very rough estimate) to that shining beacon. I had already determined that I would not rest on this journey until I reached the peak; however, something about the tower made me consider this challenge more seriously than any effort I casually devote myself to. I needed to reach that tower, fatigue be damned.
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The climb of Mt. Namsan was my odyssey. Along the way, I shouldered an oppressive summer heat, battled ruthless mosquitoes, and one-upped a worthy adversary (the stairs). There were times when I wished to stop and dissuade myself from ascending Mt. Namsan. But the tower was always in sight, coming closer with every step and urging me to soldier on. I had a boost of energy every time I saw it shining through the foliage—not unlike the final adrenaline rush at the sight of the finish line in a marathon. It was my constant companion throughout the journey.
This paragraph should be the point where I explain the analogy between the tower and the fruition of our pursuits. A goalpost, which appears at first unreachable, yet constantly in view; a finish line to drive us through the challenges we face to accomplish our goals and achieve our dreams.
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In reality, it was just a tower. I was working toward the peak, yet the tower simply came to represent that difficult task. Dreams and goals are abstract things, which cannot be planted down and lit up green like an advertisement. Wouldn’t it be easier for us to commit our every breath to achieving our dreams, if the end result was always in sight? What could a painter create, if they constantly saw a future, in which their work was featured in the world’s most renowned gallery? Should an amateur football player see a favorite team’s uniform reserved for them, would they play better than ever before to go professional?
Unfortunately for us, there isn’t always a simple object, which constantly appears in view, that can represent our abstract goals. After a while on the journey, most people just end up seeing the stairs. They won’t always be able to see the finish line far ahead, because of the challenges in front of them now. Most people just sit down or give up. And that’s the most heartbreaking difficulty in pursuing abstract goals—the end result isn’t always tangible, and it won’t be your companion on the hard journey.
That doesn’t mean you have to despair. Chin up. Appreciate every step you make and find enjoyment in the challenge. I also recommend having someone to talk to on the way. These kinds of trips aren’t as fun alone.
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