I took a deep breath.

Sucking in my drug of choice.

As I exhaled, I could feel my mind expanding. New possibilities, new ideas, shimmered throughout my imagination like a million brilliant stars. I felt peace creeping over me, a deep peace that I had never felt before. Some may call it a spiritual awakening, something written of in ancient books of wisdom. Others may simply call it the moment when I finally found myself…outside, without my smartphone.

Breathing in fresh cool air, looking out at the expanse of a valley glowing with the natural wonder of a forest teaming with wildlife. Across from where I sat a silver stream flowed down the mountainside, a tiny ribbon bursting into a waterfall as it neared the bottom of the valley. A waterfall pouring life into the lake below as light from a full moon caressed every ripple.

Strangely enough, I wouldn’t exchange this experience for yet another evening in a seedy apartment, slumped on a couch infested with bed bugs, smoking up and watching the empty babble streaming from the television.

Sure, going downhill is easier…much easier…but no matter how easy it is, it doesn’t get you to a view like this…and let me tell you, what you can see from here is a whole lot better than you’ll ever see if you spend your evenings wallowing around with bottom feeders…

So, even though the climb may be difficult right now…keep on struggling…keep on climbing when everyone else is content to remain sitting…I know you can do it…and in the end, it’ll be worth it…trust me…