climb every mountain

photos by Janea Smith Photography

 sweater | sequin skirt | gold gown | earrings | shoes 

From the time I was a little girl, I have loved and adored The Sound of Music. I performed The Hills are Alive for my school's Star Search talent show in the second grade, not quite Julie Andrews caliber (I didn't win), but full of heart, nonetheless. I even held my America Girl Doll, Samantha, on stage for support (or maybe my Mom thought this would be cute & evoke pity from the judges- again, didn't win). And even after that heartbreaking Star Search loss, I didn't give up on my singing and performance dreams. I continued to pursue choir & musicals all the way through college. It was never a lifelong plan of mine- I was not destined to be the next Mariah Carrey- though I still sing very loudly in my car and shower. Bear takes after me in this way- his current favorite song being Feliz Navidad. Unfortunately.

There have been many other failures in my twenty-nine years of life, some big and some small. There have been successes along the way, too, and I've found that the losses just make the wins that much more special. I recall very distinctly sitting on the living room floor with my parents and older brother at the age of six, watching The Sound of Music and wanting to understand the Climb Every Mountain scene. In the scene at the convent, Mother Superior sings to Maria: 

Climb every mountain,
Search high and low,
Follow every byway,
Every path you know.

Climb every mountain,
Ford every stream,
Follow every rainbow,
'Till you find your dream.

A dream that will need
All the love you can give,
Every day of your life
For as long as you live.

Climb every mountain,
Ford every stream,
Follow every rainbow,
Till you find your dream.

I remember looking over at my parents as they both had tears rolling down their faces and wondering why this song provoked such emotion. It wasn't until years later that I would fully understand the meaning of the words, and the scene in the film itself, and come to appreciate the mantra carried over into my own life.  

I may not yet have accomplished great things, or even so-so things. I might never do so. In this journey of life, I have fallen time and time again. But I always get back up, dust off my glittery gold sequin dress, and keep climbin' the mountain. Because no matter how big and far-fetched my goals may be, I won't stop until I reach them (or die trying). As a wife, a mother, a friend, a stylist, a blogger...I want to be better across the board. I have set goals for myself in every department, and no matter how many streams I have to cross or mountains I have to climb, I will get there. My Mom gave me a poster with a cat sitting in a pair of ballet slippers when I was around six years old, as well, that read, "Before the reality comes the dream". A dream that will need all the love you can give. We hung the poster on the wall across from my bed and it's the last thing I'd look at every night before falling asleep. I've never forgotten what those words meant to me growing up, and it feels as if the reality is only just beginning. 

I now cry just like my parents did all those years ago when I watch that scene in The Sound of Music, and I'm not quite sure why. Maybe it's wisdom that comes with age, and the realization of how quickly life passes us by. Maybe it's the heartache of precious, life-changing moments that have come and gone too quickly. Or maybe it's the everlasting hope, and willingness to believe, that dreams can and will come true. And that is my wish for each of you. Follow every rainbow till you find your dream.

xo, Britt