Note To Self Re: Paying One's Dues

A pattern in recent posts with subjects from rejection letters to runner's knee have reminded me that when deciding to climb a mountain, it's important to realize the path is not only uphill but also crooked, uneven, and changing.  No matter how hard you climb, along the way, you will probably fall, and stuff will probably fall on you.  Prepare for this even if others seem to have had it easy.  Prepare for this even if those who had it hard seem to be special cases.  Success will depend not only your hard work, but also your ability to recover, adapt, and continue despite the setbacks.  These are all just part of paying your dues.