Tuesday’s mountain was a reminder that it’s how you think of the experience that matters. Once we had reached the top of Mt. Takadate, I must say I was a bit disappointed with the place, yet I still thoroughly enjoyed the hike as a whole, especially the long path on the way back.

Had I let my experience at the top spoil the whole experience and just returned straight to my car, I would have missed a whole lot of fun that was waiting for me on the other side of the mountain.

While it may not be fun in the moment, your expectations can really affect your experience. If you can’t go into the experience with zero expectations, remember that what came before isn’t necessarily what will come again.