Imagine Dragons


“Always bear in mind that your own resolution to succeed is more important than any other.” ~ Abraham Lincoln

It’s an American pop-rock band that I don’t know much about except that their song ‘I’m on Top of the World’ was playing on repeat for an hour last Sunday at my house.

I’ve been learning Spanish on the Duolingo App on and off since 2018. I recently renewed my commitment to finishing the course and I really outdid myself this past week. My only blight is that despite being in the top league for 45+ weeks, I have never topped the weekly rankings. I have been in the top 3 eight times and some weeks I’ve kept my place by the skin of my teeth, but I’ve always fallen short of putting in the work to get to the top. Not last week.

I finally decided to practice what I preach and I went for it. David Goggins was speaking in my mind as I raked in points, failed some units, picked myself up, and tried again. I could smell the boats I was carrying, I heard the cries of the souls I was taking as I passed people on the leaderboard on my way to the top. Once I got to the top of the rankings, I still had 36 hours of anxiously working to keep the distance between me and the next contestant growing. Eventually at about 3 hours to the finish line, I could tell No. 2 had given up as they were no longer participating. Those last 3 hours I set my own competition rules and went for it like I was exorcising demons. And then the ticking stopped and I won!

For a moment there, I was back on Point Lenana, feeling the 6 am wind on my face, watching the sun come up from so close. On top of the world. My friend CG knows the feeling; it was just last week.  

They say the company you keep influences whom you become. Yet we all climb varied mountains in our journeys in this life. last month, my dear friend climbed to the summit of his education journey and is now Dr. K., Ph.D. On Saturday, another of my friends who started hiking last year finally sat at the foot of the signpost on Mt. Kenya, Lenana Peak. My summit is not as illustrious as theirs but it’s a summit I’ve been eyeing without commitment for a while now. Maybe their wins triggered something in me to go for my summit.

Verse 2 of Imagine Dragons’ song goes:

“I've tried to cut these corners
Try to take the easy way out
I kept on falling short of something
I could've gave up then, but
Then again, I couldn't have 'cause
I've traveled all this way for something”

Are you traveling, and for what? Something, anything? Don’t try to take the easy way out, part of the celebration is in acknowledging how hard you worked. An honest pat on the back is worth a fete.

Last week we took a step; this week we are identifying a summit. Have you gathered your climbing gear? Is it packed? Have you started out yet? Some are taking photos at the summit, some are heading down as they’ve already identified their next peaks and others are just about to arrive. What are you waiting for? Don’t you want to be on top of the world too?

“Cause I’m on top of the world, hey; I’m on top of the world, hey; Waiting on this for a while now; Paying my dues to the dirt; I’ve been waiting to smile, hey; Been holding it in for a while, hey; Take you with me if I can; Been dreaming of this since a child; I’m on top of the world.” ~ Imagine Dragons              

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