I Didn't Think I could, But I Did

Can you recall a time you had a clear decision on whether to challenge yourself or not? I had one this past week while I was up in Whistler with my family. One evening my brother-in-law asked if either my husband or myself would want to join him on the  Ascent Hike up Whistler Blackcomb the next morning. 

It is a 6 km hike from bottom to top with an 1180m elevation gain. My husband couldn’t because of work but he graciously offered to work and take care of our girls to allow me to go. 

My first reaction was “absolutely not!” but after some (not so subtle ) encouragement from my husband, I gave it a thought. 

This past year I have been putting a greater emphasis on resistance training so I figured it was a good test of my current fitness level. I was still intimidated to do it but I figured I won’t know until I try! So, the next morning I put on my runners and away we went. 

The trail itself was beautiful—shaded stretches, rocky terrain, gravel, stairs, and glimpses of stunning views along the way. But wow, was it tough! As we climbed higher, I had to repeat “Sheri can, Sheri can” in my head like a mantra. And you know what? It worked.

We reached the top in just under 2 hours and I was so proud. The views from the summit were beautiful and taking the Gondola down was also a nice treat. I am also happy to report that my legs are doing well today so the strength training I have been doing has paid off. 

But my favourite part? Telling my girls, “Mommy climbed that mountain this morning.” It made the effort ten times more meaningful.

One of my favourite quotes from a Lululemon bag has always stuck with me:“Do one thing a day that scares you.”

That doesn’t have to mean hiking a mountain—maybe it’s starting a new creative project, saying yes to something unknown, or simply speaking up when it’s hard. Whatever it is, pushing through fear is how we grow.

Final Thoughts: 

When it comes to challenges that make you pause, lean into it! You might just surprise yourself—and come out stronger, prouder, and more capable than you thought.

Me at the top of Whistler Blackcomb