I’ve been in South Korea on business, and on Saturday went for a hike up Bugaksan Mountain in Bukhansan National Park. An excellent maintained trail, I was enjoying my hike. I was warned there was a part of the trail with a set of fairly steep stairs to ascend.

I wasn’t disappointed! As the picture on the left shows, I was in for quite a hike to the top of those stairs. And so, one step at a time, one stair at a time I ascended to the top. I paced myself, knowing I didn’t want to be exhausted by the time I reached the top. I hiked by others who where panting, stopping, or straining as they ascended the staircase.

Pacing myself and being be prepared for the challenge of going up the staircase I reached the top. The views of the surrounding mountains and the city of Seoul from the top where magnificent! It was well worth the effort.

After relaxing and enjoying my time at the top, I began my descent. I was once again faced with the dreaded staircase, but this time it would be a breeze…it is all downhill! I mean, look at that picture on the right. Who wouldn’t be overjoyed to see that view? I wasn’t. Why?

Well…I’ve learned over years of hiking that going downhill is horrible on my knees. Early on in my hiking days, I would not give going downhill a second thought…until I got to the bottom and my knees had swelled up and I was in immense pain. I learned…the hard way…what seemed like the easiest way…was actually the hardest and most painful.

Isn’t that often how it is on this road you and I are travelling on? We don’t like hard, we like easy. What we fail to realize is sometimes the easiest road, is actually the hardest and most painful. Three reasons I think that is the case:

• Lack of preparation. I used to never think at all about the descent. It’s the easy path, so I don’t have to prepare myself – physically, emotionally, mentally. And so we march headlong into the “easy path” only to hit a challenge and find ourselves unprepared, which in turn can lead us to become demoralized and ready to give up.
• We harm ourselves without realizing it. I never realized the pain I would be in, until I was at the bottom. It certainly didn’t hurt going down. Unlike challenges in our lives, we often don’t even realize we are hurting ourselves…because it seems so easy…until it’s too late.
• No real growth. Unlike when I am climbing up, I am not strengthening any muscles when I am going downhill. The “easy path” does not challenge us. Does not bring about growth. Does not produce change.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m not advocating that every day be a grind and a challenge. I long for those days that are easier than others. I long for paths that are just nice and flat. But, what I have learned is to assume that easy is…well…easy can be a dangerous thing.

As I stood at the top of the stairs on Saturday, I prepared myself for the descent, just like I did the ascent. And it turned out ok. I can only hope in life I also prepare myself for the easier times and find ways to grow, just like I do for the challenges life throws at me. What is your experience with handling the easier parts of life?