You'll never know to what heights you can climb if you don't visit the mountain.

That's the epiphany that came to me earlier this week.  On Wednesday to be exact.  It's been a banner week for me personally, professionally, and circumstantially.  (Is that a word?)

For months, I've been leading a group of local citizens who want our city to have a dog park.  We've done a lot of work putting together plans, getting costs, coming up with fundraising ideas, etc.  On Tuesday, I appeared in from of the City Council for the second time to present our plan.  We didn't get shot down, but more work needs to be done before a resolution can be drafted that will, hopefully, lead to the City approving use of an acre of land.

This was a big deal for me, personally.  I agreed to lead the group, not really knowing at the time how much work this would entail.  To be honest, for all that I'm comfortable speaking in front of groups of writers, standing up in front of the city government made me nervous.  However, one thing I've learned over the years is that you have to stand up and speak for what you want -- even when doing so means you have to break out of your comfort zone. 

You have to go to the mountain.

The very next day at work, I got to see something that is the culmination of a project I started working on two years ago.  I can't go into details here yet (sorry for the tease), but it's a huge deal.  Professionally, it's the biggest, most involved project I've ever been part of.  We put in a ton of work, energy, and stress, and I was the main point person.  Now, I look at the end result and am nearly busting with pride.  It is a major accomplishment for me and everyone with whom I work. 

When you get to the mountain, don't be afraid to try the climb.  

In a terrific coincidence, Wednesday night, my favorite baseball team, the Philadelphia Phillies won the World Series.  For the first time in 28 years, the Phils are the world champions. 

28 years since they won.  15 years since they even made it as far as National League Champions.  That's a lot of years of falling short.  A lot of people, in a lot of different circumstances, would just have given up and gotten out of the game.  There's no quitting in baseball, however.  Persistence pays and the long drought filled with losses, is over.

When you're climbing up the mountain, if you don't make it the first time, keep trying.

Eight teams tried to reach the top of Mount Everest before Sir Edmund Hillary finally accomplished that feat in 1953.  No wonder he titled his autobiography, Nothing Venture, Nothing Win.

Go to the mountain and climb it.  You'll never know what you can do if you don't give it your best shot.

Happy venturing!