Elena stared at the towering mountain before her, its peak hidden by swirling clouds. Her grandfather had climbed it decades ago, and now she wanted to follow in his footsteps. The guide pointed to a narrow trail winding through dense forest and warned her that the path would test her resolve.
The first few hours passed easily, but by midday, Elena's legs ached and her water bottle was nearly empty. She sat on a boulder, questioning whether she should turn back. Then she noticed an elderly woman climbing the same trail, moving steadily despite her age.
"You seem troubled," the woman said, pausing beside Elena. "The mountain doesn't care how fast you climb, only that you keep climbing."
Elena watched the woman continue upward, her pace unhurried but unwavering. She thought about her grandfather, who had faced this same challenge. He once told her that the view from the top wasn't the real reward; it was discovering what she was capable of along the way.
Elena rose from the boulder and resumed her climb. Hours later, when she finally reached the summit, she understood what her grandfather meant. The journey had transformed her doubt into determination, and that was worth more than any view.