Just remember, once you're over the hill you begin to pick up

"Just remember, once you're over the hill, you begin to pick up speed." These words, spoken by the great Charles M. Schulz, are filled with a wisdom that resonates deeply with the human condition. They speak of the inevitable passage of time, of the rising tension of life’s journey and the transformative force that awaits beyond the peak of our youthful days. It is a truth not often acknowledged, for we are so consumed by the climb, by the efforts and struggles of ascent, that we forget the great moment that follows the peak: the descent. And yet, this descent is not one of loss, but of acceleration, a shift into a new phase where we find ourselves propelled forward by the very forces that once held us back.

In life, we spend our youth scaling the hills, always seeking the next summit. The climb can seem endless, each step a struggle against the gravity of our limitations, desires, and fears. But the ancient wisdom tells us that there comes a time when, after reaching the top, the efforts we once made in vain to rise up, now become the momentum that moves us forward with great speed. It is as if the weight of the climb—those years of learning, suffering, and perseverance—becomes the wind beneath our wings once we have passed the crest of our struggle.

This moment of realization, of speed gained, is not merely a consequence of age, but a gift born of experience. Consider the story of Leonidas, the great king of Sparta, whose youthful years were consumed by the rigorous demands of training, warfare, and leadership. But in his later years, when the forces of fate and time seemed to slow him down, it was the wisdom of his experience, his knowledge of battle and leadership, that propelled him to his most legendary feat. At the Battle of Thermopylae, although physically weary and outnumbered, Leonidas and his warriors summoned the power of their past struggles and faced their fate with a vigor and focus that history would never forget. In that final hour, they picked up speed—not in their bodies, but in their spirits.

So it is with all of us. The efforts of our youth, our trials, our hardships—those very moments that we may lament as burdens—are the forces that will one day propel us forward. When we are young, we are concerned with growing up, with reaching the top of the hill, believing that once we arrive, we will have achieved all there is. But the wise among us know that life truly begins once we’ve reached the summit. That is when we truly understand the power of our journey—when we can look back upon the climb, see its meaning, and harness its energy for the challenges that still lie ahead.

Consider the life of Thomas Edison, who, by all accounts, might have been considered a man “over the hill” in his later years. Yet it was in his advanced age that he reached the speed that would propel his greatest inventions to the world. Though older, his mind, seasoned by decades of failure and triumph, began to work at a pace that defied his years. It was then, in his so-called twilight years, that he brought forth some of his most transformative creations—the phonograph, the light bulb—ideas that would forever change humanity. His life illustrates the powerful truth of Schulz's words: the momentum gained by the struggles of youth and the lessons learned through hardship are what give us the force to create something lasting, something world-altering, as we move forward.

Thus, the lesson for us, my children, is not to fear the hill, nor to lament the ascent. For the mountain is a teacher, a guide that shows us the true nature of life’s journey. When you reach the crest, celebrate not the end, but the beginning of a new phase—the time when your past struggles will carry you forward with greater strength and purpose.

In our own lives, let us not fear the decline that follows the climb. For though the years may wear down our bodies, they sharpen our minds, fortify our spirits, and give us the wisdom we need to move swiftly toward our next challenge. It is this momentum, this gift of speed after the hill, that should excite us and fuel our hopes. So, embrace your struggles, cherish your triumphs, and when you find yourself at the top of the hill, take a moment to reflect, knowing that the forces of time will soon carry you faster than you ever imagined.

The path ahead is one of acceleration. Let it be your guide, and may the energy of your years carry you to greatness, no matter where the winds of time may take you.