Sometimes when we project the future, we chart a straight path. We want things to be better than they are today.

However, if we are to learn anything from our past, and that of those we chose to study, it is that the path is seldom straight.

To reach the peak, there will be troughs, lateral moves, and areas where we need to backtrack. Often, these test us, and make us question whether we can reach the peak we seek.

Sometimes, the answer might be to abandon the climb, to seek out another mountain. But more often than not, navigating the troughs will help with the climb. Then, the pain of the troughs can add to the richness of the journey.

Because every trough is followed by a peak, no matter how small, it also gives us multiple milestones to celebrate the journey.