climb or carry

“These mountains that you are carrying, you were only supposed to climb.”
– Najwa Zebian

The first time I read this quote, I exhaled. It was a feeling of relief. I thought about a few personal struggles of mine that are decades old. I’ve been climbing those mountains for years, reaching new vistas and stumbling on different rocks & roots all along the way.

The feeling of relief was the tiny, deep-inside recognition that my struggles don’t have to be heavy & weighted. There can be a spring in my step as I climb. I can also stand still from time to time and take a deep breath and check out the view.

And I can appreciate my damn strong legs.

What does this quote mean to you?