Weekly Photo Challenge: Achievement
“Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement. Nothing can be done without hope and confidence.” Helen Keller
Weekly Photo Challenge: Achievement – 60 Foot Fire Tower atop Overlook Mountain
Weekly Photo Challenge: Achievement – View from atop the Fire Tower on Overlook Mountain
Weekly Photo Challenge: Achievement – Top of Overlook Mountain at 3140 feet
I have a confession to make. I’m scared of heights. They make me dizzy, nauseous and sweaty. All my life, I’ve fought this fear by testing my limits and going up high places. I do it with great trepidation and feel exhilarated when I reach the top. Then I dread looking down but I do it anyway. It takes great effort, repeated again and again, to achieve anything worthwhile. So remember, feel the fear and do it anyway! I love the outdoors and long walks and hiking are some of my outdoor activities. I joined other hiking enthusiasts to climb up 3140 feet (960m) to the top of Overlook Mountain, located in the central Catskill Mountains, near Woodstock, New York in the Rhinebeck region.
Initially, the climb seemed deceptively easy, but as you ascended to the top, it became an uphill battle and demanded all of our concentration. It was worth the effort because at the top, spectacular views awaited us. As if reaching the top and looking across a huge abyss of green and mountain peaks wasn’t enough, we headed for the 60 foot Fire Tower and climbed up to see the stunning vista and winding river beyond. It was windy at the top and the silence was deafening. No one spoke; it was as if to speak meant instant death to us all. We slowly danced around each other, taking photos from multiple directions and then, as if on cue, we all started walking down the metal steps back down to the ground. Fait accompli!
“Trust yourself. Create the kind of self that you will be happy to live with all your life. Make the most of yourself by fanning the tiny, inner sparks of possibility into flames of achievement.” Golda Meir
Weekly Photo Challenge: Achievement – Collage of the event w/ 96 yr old (oldest Yoga Teacher) Tao Porchon-Lynch
Weekly Photo Challenge: Achievement – Solstice Yoga at Times Sq
Weekly Photo Challenge: Achievement – Collage of the Solstice Yoga in Times Sq event
Last summer, thousands of yoga enthusiasts gathered for the Solstice Yoga in Times Square – Mind Over Madness event. It was an early morning event I’d been planning to attend for some time, and I finally got to do it. I was blown away by the magnificence of joining many others to do hatha yoga movements in the middle of Times Square. We practiced postures, meditated, and rejuvenated the mind, body and spirit. The highlight of the morning was when 96 years old Tao Porchon-Lynch took the stage and led us through a beautiful meditation. She has practiced yoga for many years, looks fabulous, and still teaches and trains yoga teachers in Westchester County. In my opinion, Tao is truly the achievement story of this post. I will write a separate post about her. Stay tuned! The event, Solstice in Times Square: Athleta Mind Over Madness Yoga, was organized by The Times Square Alliance and Athleta; It was memorable and I plan to participate again next year.
More Below!
“Without continual growth and progress, such words as improvement, achievement, and success have no meaning.” Benjamin Franklin
Weekly Photo Challenge: Achievement – Atop Bear Mountain (1,303 ft) and View from the Perkins Memorial Tower
Weekly Photo Challenge: Achievement – Perkins Memorial Tower (40 feet) atop Bear Mountain
Weekly Photo Challenge: Achievement – We hiked the challenging Major Welsh Trail
Weekly Photo Challenge: Achievement – Collage of the Bear Mountain Hike from start to finish w/ certificates handed out
Hiking is another form of challenging exercise that I enjoy. Being in nature, on a hiking trail, pulls me closer to myself. On this Bear Mountain State Park/Bear Mountain, NY, hiking challenge with my martial arts club members, we got to experience what it means to set a goal and accomplish it. We set out early in the morning, just when the morning fog began to lift, and hiked up the Major Welsh Trail to the top of the mountain (elevation is 1,303 ft (397 m)). The view from the top was spectacular; especially when I climbed to the top of The Perkins Memorial Tower (40 feet (12 m)) atop Bear Mountain and looked down to the Hudson Valley before me. We had a Tae Kwon Do class atop the mountain and then headed back down after lunch. In the collage, you’d see the hike up, two ladies celebrating at the top, the walk done and the certificate awards. It was a memorable experience. I look forward to doing it with the team again, hopefully, next year.
What are your thoughts? What is your greatest achievement? Were you able to find suitable examples for the prompt? Do share? Thank you!
My fellow bloggers were equally creative with their selections. Check out how others interpreted the theme below.
This post was inspired by a prompt from WP Daily Post: Weekly Photo Challenge: Achievement This week, Have you just run 26.2 miles, finished a long-term project, or met a personal goal? This week, show us an achievement.e
Positive Motivation Tip: When we set our minds on a goal and push through our fears, we can achieve almost anything we focus on.
More Weekly Photo Challenge Posts
PHOTO CREDITS/ATTRIBUTIONS: All Photos from my personal collection.
Until Next Time…
Ask. Believe. Receive. ©
Elizabeth Obih-Frank
Mirth and Motivation
Positive Kismet
I don’t blame you at all for fear of height! but wow! what a view and an awesome day spent 🙂
Thank you Andy! The hikes have been a great training in endurance and effort. I’d do it again. 🙂
I bet! I’d love to see such a sight too 🙂
It’s never too late! 🙂
Very true 😀
Hahaha! 😁
YES!!!
AMEN to that Gilly! TY for the enthusiasm. It put a smile on my face.
Beautiful photos. I’m uncomfortable with heights, too, but sometimes it’s definitely worth getting past that fear for a great view 🙂
Definitely true, Joanna! It is worth the effort.
Those pictures definitely made it worth the climb. Wow! I remember seeing that yoga event on the news. So fun.
The yoga event was a blast and I was so grateful to make it. The climbs were grueling but the scenery more than made up for them. TY! 🙂
I have yet to see a photo that isn’t amazing in this series. I love it.
Ben, you are too kind. It does require some elimination of bad shots and then a day spent agonizing of which one to use. Thank you!
You always have the best pictures!!!! And I totally agree!!! Setting your mind to something and being positive can get you anywhere ❤
Almost. Thank you Courtney. I’m an amateur photog and glad to hear positive feedback.
Thank you for your inspiration. You might not know it but your motivation inspires me. I’ve ready many of your posts and when I grow up, I want to be just like you.
All of that aside, I would have given anything to be a part of the Solstice Yoga in Times Square, mind over matter group.
Terri R Beavers
Oh Terri! You are such a riot… When I grow up, I want to be like you too. Thank you! 🙂
Thank you for sharing these beautiful pictures. I too am afraid of heights.
Welcome to the club! I hope you’ll make some effort to work through it. It doesn’t go away completely, but the more I try, the better I feel.
All the pictures are really great. Congrats to you for conquering your fear of heights.
Thank you Catherine I haven’t conquered the fear completely. I just push through the fear and do it… It’s always there as a safety precaution, I suppose. 😉
I love your photos, they always make me feel like I am right there. You should be a photographer your photos always turn out perfect.
Oh thank you Victoria! I wish they all did. I usually take tons of photos of the same scene and then try to pick the best one. About 50% of my shots are deleted or pushed to the side. I make my share of bad pictures, trust me. 🙂
I also love hiking and getting away from it all. Loved this weekly photo challenge, and all your photos 🙂
Those scenery pictures are gorgeous! I would love to visit those places!
Well, come on up to Westchester County and we can go hiking someday. TY!
Those are some really beautiful shots! Awesome job!
Thank you Jennifer! Appreciated.
I’ll try to remember your great motivational tip: “When we set our minds on a goal and push through our fears, we can achieve almost anything we focus on.”
BTW, that view on the top of the mountain is awesome!
Thank you Delia! I need to remember it too. 🙂
Wow this is beautiful 🙂 I love pictures! Yours are definitely really amazing and great perspective too!
TY! It has been a fun exercise and I love photography.
Great job for facing your fears! These are spectacular photos!
TY Heather! I appreciate your support.
I like climbing mountains. The view from the top is really humbling. You get to appreciate nature’s raw beauty.
Totally! it is humbling and I’m always in awe of the world in front of me on a mountain top.
Beautiful photos! Your challenge photos are great! Keep ’em coming!
Thank you so much. I shall try. 🙂
Climbing all those stairs would be quite a feat for me with my bad knees and fear of heights. I think I would attempt to do it even if I didn’t reach the top. 😊
Yoga in Times Square sounds intriguing. I can’t imagine how it was all pulled together. I can only wish that the yoga I do will get me to that age – 96.
Namaste 🙏
Hi Isa, so good to hear from you. We climbed slowly and carefully. Haha! Tao is an inspiration! 🙂
great pics! I love all the quotes you had within.
Thanks again Sandy! The quotes help me get started. 😉
Wow the photo from the top of the mountain is amazing! Fabulous photos, thanks for sharing them all 🙂
Thank you Fi Ni! I’d love to visit again.
Reblogged this on frijasroxanne.
Thank you Roxanne! 🙂
Those are some very beautiful pictures, you’re so lucky to have been to those amazing places!
Thank you! If you are in the New York area, you can always take a drive to either location. They will be probably close soon because of the winter season… Makes the trail treacherous.
That yoga teacher looks amazing for 96 years old! I honestly can’t wait to read your post about her, I’m intrigued!
She is a remarkable woman and has practiced it for many years. Stay tuned.
These are such beautiful photos!!!! Thank you for sharing them with us!
I’m glad you liked them. TY!
These are all great photos. I have a new camera i have to learn how to use so i can take great pictures.
Get to it Ann! I hesitated to use my DSLR for a while but once I did, I was hooked. 🙂
Great achievements!
Thank you so much for your feedback and good to see you here again.
Such wonderful photos yet again – thank you. And whoa – that is quite a lot, I think I would want to try that too HAHA!
You are welcome to try. It will make you more determined in the face of failure. 🙂
Lovely Photo challenge collection. My favorites are the panoramas. I’m fortunately not afraid of heights and was always fascinated of the mountains and the view from the highest spots were i went challenging the rocks and finally making a great panorama photo to never forget my achievement while enjoying the beauty of nature.
Good for you. I love that panoramic view and it pulls me back again and again.
What cool pictures! Those stairs are certainly a HUGE challenge!
They were and if you looked down, you felt the wind pushing to knock you over. Frankly, I don’t think people are supposed to climb up there without supervision. We had a trail guard with us.
What a view!
That view makes it worth it! What a beautiful site!
It was spectacular 😉
This post is so inspiring. You are really helping to motivate me to be better. Thanks for sharing.
You are welcome Erin!
The first image is a powerful one. It’s also appropriate in communicating optimism. Congratulations on conquering one of your fears. I know it must have been scary, but you did a great job in doing something out of your comfort zone.
You know, I must have given the impression that the fear of heights is gone. It isn’t. I just keep pushing through it… There’s no magic pill for some phobias, we just keep on living. 🙂
What a view! It can be really scary facing your fears, but you did it! Well done, the hike looked fun too! 🙂
Thank you Sophie! It was both scary and fun! 🙂
These are beautiful pictures! I love this concept of achievement as a photo challenge.
Yes, it’s an interesting one to interpret.
Beautiful photos. They are all indeed a metaphor of achievement. This little blog of yours, consider it as one of your achievements.
Hahaha! 😁 Thank you for the wonderful reminder. You are right. I completely forgot about all the struggle I’ve been through to keep this blog going. Well said.
I am so scared of heights but I bet I would like the view if I went up there. Thanks for sharing your photos.
Yes you would love the far reaching, panoramic views.
Thank you! Bonnie, I hope you try some day. 🙂
I recently experienced a personal triumph (achievement) this week, and it feels sooo good. I also experienced a bit of a setback regarding this achievement, but this journey will serve as a learning tool for me in the future. I’ve been learning more and more the value of finding the good in every situation…even setbacks.
I can relate to what you are going through. Sometimes, we experience a great uplifting shift, and then a twist in that shift that unravels everything. Our attitude makes a great difference. I recently had an opportunity slip away. I had to surrender it and move forward. I decided that something better awaits me. 🙂
Wow! Those are some great pictures. I think that my greatest accomplishment (in progress) has definitely been parenting my 4 year old. I may not be doing a perfect job, but I think I’m doing pretty well. 🙂
Parenting is definitely at the top of the list. I agree.
I am right there with you.. afraid of height.. But my greatest achievement has been bringing a product to the market.. very satisfying.
I’m so proud of you. You’ve worked so hard too.
I love your photos! Many people are afraid of heights, it’s tough to overcome, but you’ve managed to enjoy life in spite of your fear!
Thank you! That is true… I love nature so I just go do it.
What a truly AWEsome view from that tower! Your Wordless Weekly Photo Challenge pics are truly that…no words are needed!
Thank you so much!
Great post and great pictures! There are so many achievements and I think it depends on us, who we are, what we really consider an achievement. Congratulations on yours, beating your fears is always a great achievement!
TY Joanna! They are still there but I push through anyway.
What beautiful photos! I wish I could have seen that view in person.
such beautiful sites! I haven’t been hiking in so long, I miss it! =)
Today everything exists to end in a photo. Nice photography and nice pictures too.
You really have good skills when it comes to photography! Seeing such good scenery makes me feel so peaceful
This tower looks huuuuuge! I am scared of heights so I think it would be a big no no for me
I love seeing your photo challenges. Your photos always take my breath away.
I have always miss this kind of activity with my friends. Love the shots.
Thank you for sharing your amazing stories and beautiful photos. Kudos to you for conquering your fears. Stay blessed!
This is a great post with a great message indeed. It is awesome when we can face our fears and achieve what we thought we couldn’t. My greatest achievement was making it through the Army boot camp. It was the first time in my life I faced some of my fears and the first time I ever realized I could make it through anything I put my mind to do. Thanks for sharing.