Mountain peaks don't move

After months away from biking, I got a new bike last week.

Weekend arrived, and the weather was beautiful. The sky was blue, and I was excited to have a bike after so long, so I decided to ride to the top of Üetliberg ¹.

The incline was already tiring from the first minutes. My legs started burning even before the asphalt road gave way to the dirt path. Doubt filled my mind as I entered the forest, and the peak seemed impossible to reach. My brain was heavily protesting against the endeavor.

Several people passed by me effortlessly, ascending with ease.

Around 30 minutes into the ride and on the verge of turning back, I had a sudden realization: the peak cannot move. The goal is fixed. I just need to keep moving forward, no matter how slowly. Moving in the right direction will inevitably lead me the top.

The trivial fact felt like an epiphany, transforming the entire experience. I stopped being painfully aware of the remaining distance and the passing riders. They were exemplifying what I could achieve with repetition and practice. Though my legs burned, I knew from past experiences that they can endure for a remarkably long time. I just had to pedal consistently.

But the most intense change occurred within my mind — I was no longer desperate. Loud thoughts and mental anguish evaporated. I could enjoy the majestic scenery, the endorphin rush, and above all, the pure joy of the ride.

At the top, I got myself the biggest ice cream I could find, and sat to admire the view. The thought persisted in my head: goals are immobile, and persistence leads to their inevitable conquest.