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200 words, believe, calling, community, destination, Diana Schwenk, Diana's Enormous Book of Quotes, dreams, Fear, goals, growing up, journey, laughter, life, living in the moment, love, mission, mountain, passion, Purpose, vision
Today is your day! Your mountain is waiting. So get on your way. ~ Dr. Seuss
I think we often view the Mountain as a barrier that we’re trying to get around
as something that stands in our way.
Something that needs to be obliterated in order to achieve that which we desire to achieve.
And I guess that it can be, depending on the metaphor we’re going for.
But what if your mountain is your calling?
What if climbing it is the point, not getting around it or blasting through it? What if the journey to get to the top is what gives you the very skills you need to accomplish what you’re meant to do?
My mountain is called Building Community. And I have thought it has meant many specific things at very specific times, most recently The Other Bottom Line.
But the higher I climb, the more I realize it has meant all those things. And none have been for naught. Each has been a gift along the way.
~ DIANA’S ENORMOUS BOOK OF QUOTES ~
What’s your Mountain called? Do you link it directly to one goal or do you see it manifested in many ways throughout your journey?
talktodiana 
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My mountain is the limbo I’ve been in since just before school started. What I was told I would be teaching by an administration that was transferred is not what I walked into with the new administration. A program is ending and that will mean changes. But I’m not sure what’s in the future. Somehow, I’m sure that I will turn lemons into lemonade. 😉
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I think you will too Judy! Whatever happens I know your students will benefit. ❤
Diana xo
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I certainly hope that my students thrive and excel – with me or without me. 😉
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Ahh the heart of a true teacher. ❤
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😉
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An interesting topic Diana and one that is on my mind for my post this week. I call my mountain my purpose, and indeed I have many ways to fulfill it. The other part of this for me are the “worthwhile distractions” along the way AKA my passions.
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Ian I’m hoping your purpose and passion are one! ❤
Diana xo
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That’s such a timely comment and just what I’m debating internally. Stay tuned for the Sunday edition of Leading Essentially!
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My mountain is finding a way to balance like-to-do and need-to-do, Diana. I like writing and relating about life with words, ideas and photos in my blog in a way that I hope a lot of people can relate to and find entertaining, enlightening and useful. I need to line up freelance opportunities or find a full-time job to make money for my dear wife Karen and I to live that life for me to write about and share.
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You are so talented Mark. Someone who can pay you is bound to take advantage of that. Sending good, positive thoughts and prayers… ❤
Diana xo
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Thank you, my great and wonderful friend. ❤
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Yes, sure a mountain, especially a beautiful mountain beckons and one hopes the weather isn’t too horrible all the time up the way. I haven’t talked a lot about my life’s metaphorical mountains in blog yet.
In climbing mountains, I hope for strength, a friend or 2 somewhere along the way, some rest to pause, reflect and hopefully I won’t get dizzy on narrow paths. I fear of heights without a protective barrier.
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I fear heights too Jean. Going up isn’t so bad, coming down often scares me! ❤
Diana xo
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Yup, I totally agree. Maybe we should look at it this way: we often don’t know how far and how high we’ve climbed. Going down means taking a different journey with different challenges and fears..but might take you to a wonderful rainforest or ocean beach.
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A brilliant plan!
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Diana I love this post. a wonderful metaphor. Yes for me life is very much about the climb. It creates a far more interesting journey.
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Thanks Sue, I think this is probably true for you metaphorically and literally! ❤
Diana xo
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I was actually thinking that Diana. 🙂
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I love this metaphor Diana! The obstacle is the way. Its up to us to transform it.
Mine is compassion in all things.
xo
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Compassion is a great one Val! ❤
Diana xo
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I call my mountain depression. It’s hard to climb but I do it anyway. Mostly with blinders on and the faith that I will reach the top and enjoy the view.
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Here’s wishing you all the courage, strength and determination possible April! Maybe one day, the mountain will have another name… ❤
Diana xo
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I need to look at it differently, I think. I’m almost to the summit…..
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You go girl!
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😀
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I have been telling my husband for weeks now that I need to be living in the mountains. Literal mountains. After reading this I now want to think about the journey there….is the existence or the climbing or what part of the mountain-the figurative answer. I’m curious about it. I’ve noticed I like to work hard to get to the top (literal), enjoy being at the top but never have enough time to just sit there (literal) and take my time descending (literal). I wonder if that’s how I am with a metaphorical mountain???
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Nothing wrong with basking in the glory of the view from the top, I say!
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Mountains to me are mostly, “Ooooh! Pretty!” XD
Mountain metaphors… hmmm… I’ve compared spiritual belief to a mountain in that the climb is what’s important, not the path.
And I never thought about this until you asked, but there are different basic kinds of mountain metaphors. Some, you pointed out at the beginning, are seen as obstacles to get around or remove. Others, your Mt. Building Community for instance, are seen as the goal or point. You climb the mountain for the higher view, or for a challenge, or to get to the top, or just because it’s there. Regardless, the mountain itself is the goal, not whatever is beyond it.
I wonder if that doesn’t reflect two ways to look at life: a series of obstacles to get past or a series of challenges to climb.
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Good one Smitty – like an attitude adjustment kinda thing! ❤
Diana xo
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I have never thought of the mountain metaphor like this. Wonderful!
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Me neither, until I read the Seuss quote on my Twitter feed Julie! ❤
Diana xo
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❤
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❤ ❤ 😀
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Wonderful post Diana. I think the mountain I’m climbing is one that is slowly taking me out of an individualized way of thinking into a more interconnective way of thought. Not easy, but I’m beginning to feel just something of the sheer beauty of the climb.
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Funny. I find you very ‘interconnective.’ The journey must be going well Don! ❤
Diana xo
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I’ve hurdled a few of those mountains. It made me. Wouldn’t have it any other way. Thanks for a thoughtful piece. You always nail it, Diana. 💕
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I bet you have Van, it shows in your posts. Thanks for the kind words and support here. ❤
Diana xo
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I LOVE that book / poem by Dr Seuss (Oh, the places you’ll go). He was so clever at making children’s stories so apt and meaningful for us adults!
As for the mountains, I have had goal mountains (such as doing a degree, and doing a research project). I have also had obstacle mountains thrown at me over the past ten years and courageously trudged up them (the alternative was to plunge down into a dark chasm).
So while at the moment I would never intentionally climb another mountain (maybe, given time, a little hill), there is nothing more triumphant than reaching the top of a mountain, whether it has been a ‘goal’ mountain OR an ‘obstacle’ mountain that has just been climbed.
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Love the way you stated this Elizabeth. I love Seuss too, I wonder if he wrote children’s books with the intent of teaching adults who were teaching their children… ❤
Diana xo
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Ha-ha, you inspired me and I just wrote another post. The quickest ever! Came to me in a blinding flash. 🙂
Re:Seuss. I read only yesterday that “Seuss” was a pseudonym he used writing children’s books, waiting for inspiration for ‘the next great novel’ when he would use his real name. Of course that never happened.
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I love that you were inspired Elizabeth and how cool is that tidbit about Seuss!
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At first, I never like the look of the mountain or my goals, it often feels daunting or overwhelming,but as I take a step each day towards the top, I realise that I am halfway there, and suddenly it doesn’t feel so big anymore. Great post Diana. You are a wonderful builder of the Community and climbing mountains 🙂
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Yes step by step the task seems less daunting. Thanks Karen, for your kind and generous comment. ❤
Diana xo
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Love the mountain metaphor…my mountain is awakening the humanity in myself and others – and it definitely manifests in different ways.
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(smiling) I can totally see that about you Vicki! ❤
Diana xo
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Diana my mountain is my blessing. I know it is there to challenge me but its good to be challenged and nothing or no piece of work comes easily. We all need to build our dreams from the bottom up. I guess we never sit up the top for very long as we are only as good as our next big project and their are other mountains to climb. I have been faltering at the halfway mark but its time to do the summit.
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I’m cheering for you as you reach for the summit Kath. ❤
Diana xo
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Thank you Diana.
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HAvung climbed many mountains it is the descent that is most dangerous. Good climbing buddies are essential! Up and down.
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I hear you Louise! descending mountains is a knee-killer for me!
As to your 2nd point, I consider it a blessing to have you as one of my climbing buddies. ❤
Diana xo
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It depends…over the years there has been a few, depending what I was looking for at the time, so I must have a complete chain of mountains, some I did reach the point I want to go, even if it was not the summit, some are still to climb, they can be call travelling, getting places, doing things either professionnaly or in art, and mainly, generally speaking getting to be a better person, even if I am not quite sure of the definition of that…:) I guess we need our mountains, to look at, contemplate sometimes, work hard to try to go up, enjoy the view when you get there, and go for another one..:)
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Yes, I suppose one could also look at it as a series of mountains related to goals JMR.
Out of curiosity and with all your mountains in mind, what are they all leading to? What is the driving force or passion that pulls you to climb them?
Thanks for chiming in! ❤
Diana xo
p.s. Your English is amazing! I'm thinking of going back to school to get my French back up to par.
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Hum, I guess it could be the topic for a whole post, maybe one day I will write one on this…:) but in short I guess it is to become a better person, not necessarely in term of achievement, but of knowing yourself, forces and weakness, work on it and try again most of the time..:D
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I would look forward to such a post!
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Maybe during my vacation in september…or it will be another of these projects with undefined timeframe..:)
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I think my mountain is reaching out to others with my writing. And/or connecting through my blog, by way of photography, poetry, etc.
Jennifer ❤
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Well you definitely do that Jennifer! I wonder if those are the skills you have learned along the way to accomplish a greater mission?
The reason I ask is because your comment made me evaluate the name of my mountain. Perhaps building community, along with blogging, speaking and other skills I’ve acquired along the way are because I long for connection, unity and harmony. Maybe harmony is the best name for my mountain and comes from a deep desire within me for everyone to get along…I can see that manifesting itself in my earliest memories…anyway just thinking out loud. ❤
Diana xo
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Harmony is a great name for your mountain, Diana. It certainly sounds fitting for you. You must get a great deal of satisfaction from your line of work when you see your goals being realized. ❤
Besides the obvious need for self-expression, I think my novel writing is spurred by a desire to connect to others too, while sharing my viewpoint and inner feelings through a fictional tale. But don't we all need to form connections as human beings? Obviously for me, having a job in the corporate world, being married, and having family and friends did not fulfill me enough! haha. I still needed something of my own to pursue. So I would say my mountain at the moment is seeing my first book published and in the hands of readers. 🙂
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Yes, yet unlike a perfect balance sheet, you’re never quite done!
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I love mountains and I love the way you build community, Diana! ❤
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Me too and thank you Ann! ❤
Diana xo
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how does one build community Diana ?
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Good question Bill!
Short answer would be starting where a group of people have something in common and inspiring them to work together for a common purpose/interest for the good of all.
In other words find what connects us rather than what divides us. And when we feel connected, we are more likely to be open to exploring what divides us and finding a solution, while nurturing a community that cares for all its members, don’t you think Bill? ❤
Diana xo
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I’m only worth the short answer ? 🙂
Teasing aside, if we look at it, what we have in common almost always what separates us.
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What? That has not been my experience, unless you’re fighting with people on things you agree about? I’m confused. 🙂
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it seems to me that people most want the same things, a chance for their kids, meaning at work – and that when we consider that in others it establishes common ground.
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So they want to meaning in their lives, want to know they can count on someone when times get rough, and want those whom they love to know they’re there for them…
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Couldn’t agree more!!
My mountains are named Recovery and Thrive.
The only way to live the life I’m meant to is to climb those twin peaks.
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(Smiling) I wish you much success on your journey Denise! ❤
Diana xo
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