Ambition - "Meditations For People Who Do Too Much"

This reading from the book, "Meditations For People Who Do too Much" (Aug. 5th) begins with a quote from Margaret Thatcher that asks us "Why do (we) climb philosophical hills?" As intelligent people, we have to assess the climb that is before us and make clear decisions about how we choose to tackle each. Choosing to go only halfway, only 3/4's of the way up, or even to go around the hill altogether instead illustrates to us that we have more choices than we may have ever realized.

Transcript

Meditations for women who do too much.

Ambition!

Why do you climb philosophical hills?

Because they are worth climbing.

There are no hills to go down,

Unless you start from the top.

From Margaret Thatcher One of the marks of an intelligent person is to be able to distinguish what is worth doing and what isn't and to be able to set priorities.

The significance of the climb may not be in reaching the top.

One can go down a hill from halfway up or from three-quarters of the way up.

Or it may be more interesting and intriguing to walk around the hill.

To have the opportunity to explore the philosophical hill,

We must step onto it.

From then on,

It is in the process of the walking and noticing the rocks,

Plants,

And strangers along the way that wisdom comes.

Getting to the top isn't bad,

And it's probably done as an afterthought.