FORGED. THEN UNLEASHED.

In the deep mountain valley at the base, I wandered in the freezing cold. It’s

uncomfortable. I shiver as the wind blows and bites to the bone. Snow smacked in the face, blurring my vision. Thunder roared in the skies. The lightning shot through the clouds, providing temporary light on my journey. My breathing labored for the elevation robbed me of oxygen. My muscles tightened as they were slowly freezing in place. The clothes that covered me didn't give me warmth. Only grit and the man above provided that.

I looked up from the ground, and there in front of me was a mountain, big and large in its glory. Unmovable and unshakable. Then I saw a snow leopard moving across the rocky terrain with stealth, grace, and elegance. It was like a ghost that you only see for a moment, and then it disappears the next. It ruled the mountain with authority and ferocity, for no other cat could survive at these heights. It was an animal that not many people know about or understand. A rarity of its kind. It was the apex predator of the mountains, and it reached the summit with ease, untroubled by the elements that kept me at the base. As it reached the summit, I lost sight of it, and interestingly enough, it didn't roar, for it didn't have to. It made its presence known without a single roar.

Inspired by this beautiful, rare animal, I set my sights on the summit and desperately wanted to achieve it. But in order for me to reach the summit, I must prepare and train. Weaknesses needed to be strengthened and honed—strengths needed to be sharpened and refined. New skills had to be learned and acquired. So, I found a nearby cave and went to work.

While in the caves of the mountains, I forged in silence. I forged in silence to excel. I forged in silence to make changes and not excuses. I forged in silence to gain strength. I forged in silence to heal. I forged in silence to be disciplined. I forged in silence to gain wisdom. I forged myself to have self-esteem and remove self-pity. I forged into silence to finish what I started and to fulfill my destiny. I forged in silence to free myself from the manipulation of fear. Fear of not being good enough. Fear of missing out. Fear of getting hurt. Fear of rejection. Fear of uncertainty. Fear of adversity. Fear of being judged. Fear of not being liked or understood. Fear of failure. I forged in silence to conquer and rise above these fears, for they had ruled me for far too long. In these mountains, I must face everything and rise, and not face everything and run.

Over time, I slowly but surely acclimated to the bitter, freezing cold and the rugged terrain. The wind’s bite, slowly, stopped bothering me. I pivoted and made adjustments. I was comfortable with being uncomfortable. I was no longer struggling; I was living.

Then...the time had come. I emerged from my cave stronger, steadier, different, wiser, and ready to conquer. I then began my climb toward the summit. 

The climb was not easy. It was hard and challenging. It was slow, but I was making progress. Voices were telling me to give up and fall, but I refuse to accept their offer. I did not spend time forging for nothing. I kept pushing against the naysayers and the doubters. The elements of the mountains were brutal with blizzards, winds, and storms. It was clear that something didn’t want me to reach the summit of this mountain. The higher I got in elevation, the harder the climb became.

Before you know it, my oxygen was giving way, so I stopped to regain my strength. Then I looked over and saw the snow leopard. For it looked majestic in its authority on the mountain, unfazed by the elements. It looked at me, looked up at the summit, and then back at me. Its eyes spoke of encouragement to keep pushing. I looked up and saw that I was close to the summit. With the strength I had left, I kept pushing on, determined to reach the summit.

With one final push, I reached the mountain’s summit. I was no longer in the storm; I was above it. The sun beamed on me and gave me warmth. The view was breathtaking—vast and glorious, just like I had imagined. I had finally achieved my goal. Standing there, I felt a rush of freedom and power as I stood in authority, majesty, and elegance. I looked to my right, and I saw the snow leopard once again. It glanced at me, conveying respect, and continued to watch quietly. 

What are you forging in silence today to reach the summit?