Special Results Require Special Actions

Picture this: I’m on holiday in beautiful hill country in the North of England with my family, including my 88 year old father-in-law who is wheelchair-bound.

We all decide to go and see a water fall, which is nearly 4km (about 2 1/2 miles) from the car park. As it’s very hilly, the journey is quite a challenge for me. But we make it, and are amazed by the powerful noise of the waterfall running down a steep gully near the reservoir outlet.

Then I face the journey back. I am now tired, it’s evening, and the return trip back to the car is more up than down.

As we race back, trying to get there before sundown (there are *no* lights anywhere, as it’s literally miles from civilization), we reach the home straight and suddenly the sun breaks out behind some high cloud, glimmering late golden sunshine onto the reservoir, and us.

The sight, as you can see from the image above, is quite breath-taking. And I find myself saying the following to my father-in-law:

“I’m glad we went as far as the waterfall John. I’ve learned in life that if you want to get something special, you have to do something special. And I know we won’t be coming back here, so I felt it was worth going the extra distance.”

Not only did we get to see the fast torrent of water, but we experienced the awe-inspiring sight as we completed the final leg of the journey back.

The takeaway is very clear: if you want to gain something unique, something inspirational or special in life, you must be willing to do what other people might not be willing to do.

You will be richly rewarded (in the best and broadest sense of the word ‘rich’) as you do this.

In case it has been a hidden truth: the finest treasures always require hard and often unique work, plus a willingness to do things that others would not do.

One final thought: during our 3 hour round trip and tour, we only saw one other family. Don’t be deceived into thinking that because there are few treading the path you are headed, that it’s the wrong path. It’s more likely to be the other way around.