Once, there was a young woman who stood before an impossible mountain. It loomed so high it vanished into the heavens, and its width stretched endlessly, as if encircling the entire Earth. She needed to reach the other side, but there was no way over, no way around. The only path was through.
With a handful of tools and a heart full of determination, she began to dig. The earth was cold, the rocks sharp and unyielding. Soon, the tunnel she carved swallowed her in darkness. The silence pressed heavily against her, and doubt began to whisper. What if I’m digging in the wrong direction? What if there is no other side?
But she kept digging.
There were times when her tools broke or were lost to the shadows. When that happened, she clawed at the earth with her bare hands, tearing her skin, and breaking her bones. She bled, she cried, but she did not stop.
The days turned into years, the years into decades. Some say she dug not just for years but for lifetimes. The woman’s body grew weary, her spirit battered, but she pressed forward.
Then, one day, her fingers struck something unexpected: light. With one final, trembling blow, the tunnel opened, and the other side of the mountain revealed itself. Sunlight poured in, warm and golden, and she staggered into its embrace.
She had made it.
But the journey had cost her much. She had been alone, afraid, and broken. Yet, as she sat in the light of her triumph, she thought not of herself, but of those who might come to the mountain after her.
So, the now older woman returned to the tunnel. She brought candles and lamps, food and water, and brand-new tools. With care and love, she lined the tunnel with light, ensuring its path was clear. She left supplies for those who might need them and rested by the entrance, ready to help.
And then she waited.
One day, another young woman arrived at the mountain. She stood before its impossible height and endless width, wondering how she could ever get through.
The older woman stepped forward and said, “Come, follow me.”
She led the younger woman into the tunnel, now bright and welcoming. Along the way, she offered her food, water, and companionship. Together, they reached the other side in a fraction of the time it had once taken.
The young woman turned to her and asked, “How did you know how to build this path?”
The older woman smiled softly and said, “I didn’t at first. I had to dig blindly, alone, and in the dark. But I built this tunnel so no one else would have to.”
If you ever find yourself questioning the power of a guide, coach, or teacher, remember this story: they are not there to carry you but to show you the way, lighting the path so you can claim your own power and walk boldly into your destiny, without having to go through the pain and time all on your own.
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