THE MOUNTAINS OF OUR LIVES
Every Man May Take a Different Path to Reach the Summit
But Many Will Encounter the Same Roadblocks

Men simply do not ask for directions—in traffic or on life’s road.  They usually question why they should ask for help when they think they can handle the feelings of frustration, confusion, anger, stress, self-doubt, and depression on their own.

Several years ago, after his own experiences with stress and depression, Granville Knight, Jr., began an in-depth study of the problems men face when adjusting to changes in their lives.  His book, The Mountains of Our Lives, is based not only on his own personal experiences, but includes information he gathered from interviews and conversations with men who have faced the same challenges.

There is no other viewpoint which is as destructive and leads to so many problems as “This is my problem, and I’m damn well strong enough to handle it myself.”   But now that some or all of these feelings are occuring, have they shared these concerns with anyone?  The answer, sad to say, is a universal No.  Because it’s just the way men are.

The second half of a person’s life should be as exciting as the first half.  Everyone will face potential problems if they are unwilling to recognize that changes do occur.  They need to slow down and ask themselves: Where am I now?   Where am I going?   It is never too late for a person to make some positive changes in their life.  How well people age in this second phase of life is determined by the changes they set in motion now . . .

Stress is not just a six-letter word.  Stress is a silent killer which most often leads to depression.  The good news is that it is curable.  People who are stressed or depressed are not alone!  The World Health Organization estimates 350 million people are affected by depression.  Depression may be characterized by any or all of these common signs: Emptiness, sadness, negativity, anxiety, apathy, guilt, sleeplessness, change in diet, or suicidal thoughts.

What Do You Want to Be Remembered For? is one of the most important chapters of the book, as it questions the kind of legacy a person is going to leave.  Thinking there is plenty of time to worry about a legacy on down the line is wrong.  Legacies are written daily.

Very few people realize how hard it is to make the transition from a life of striving to succeed to a life of striving to be meaningful.   As they grow older, there is a deep-seated desire to move from success to significance.  These are the mountains of their lives, but most men do not know what route to take to get over them.

Moving from success to significance is not always an easy transition, since most men’s identities have been based on their profession.  After being accustomed to a fast-paced life in the business world, it is quite an adjustment for most men to get their sense of worth from smiles, hugs, and thank you’s.

Knight sums up his treatise by saying there should not be voids in a person’s life.  When cutting back on social and business activities, a large part of that time must then be filled with other meaningful activities or they will be heading for trouble.  They should give back to society and make a difference.  The first half of life is about conquest; the second half needs to be about heroism.

As author Carl Bard said, “Though no one can go back and make a brand new start, anyone can start from now and make a brand new ending.”