On a recent trip to Nebraska for my son’s hockey event, we had a quick layover at Chicago O’Hare Airport. If you've ever flown through O'Hare, you know that transferring between terminals often means one thing: walking. A lot. On this day, we had to change terminals—and found ourselves approaching that familiar tunnel where you descend underground, walk the length of a corridor, and then come back up the other side.
As we approached the entrance to the tunnel, I noticed something that struck me: hundreds of travelers were on or waited in line to cram onto the escalators—many of whom had no bags, were young, and looked perfectly able-bodied. Meanwhile, the staircase—right there in the middle—was completely empty.
We took the stairs. Down and back up. Each time, we moved faster than the escalator crowd, despite each of us carrying a bag or two. The faster route was also the harder one. And we were shocked to see that no one else made that choice.
I don’t say this to pat myself on the back. I say this because it felt like a metaphor for how we often approach life. We’re so conditioned to choose the path of least resistance—even when it costs us time, progress, and health.
There’s an old saying I love: “Easy choices, hard life. Hard choices, easy life.” This small moment at O’Hare embodied that truth perfectly.
🏋️♂️ Hard choices build strength—literally and figuratively
We could take the stairs because we’ve built a life around physical activity, strength, and healthy living. And it’s because we continue to choose movement over convenience, effort over ease, that we can keep choosing that path.
The more you avoid challenge, the more fragile you become. But the more you embrace it—even in small ways, like taking the stairs at an airport—the more resilient you become.
🚶 The 15-Minute Walk That Says Everything
The walk between terminals wasn't just a layover hustle; it was a reminder. We’re not talking about climbing Everest. It was four flights of stairs. It was a choice. And what saddened me wasn’t that some people took the escalator—some absolutely needed to. It’s that no one took the stairs. Not one.
This wasn’t just about fitness. It was about mindset. When did doing the hard thing become so unthinkable?
🔥 Your Challenge
Next time you're at an airport—especially Chicago O’Hare—and you reach that long corridor between terminals, I want you to remember this post. Look at the stairs. Look at the escalator. And ask yourself:
👉 Which choice will help me grow? 👉 Which choice will I be proud of? 👉 Which choice represents the life I want to build?
Choose the stairs. Choose effort. Choose movement.
And don’t stop there. Choose the hard option in the rest of your life too:
Prep the healthy meal instead of ordering takeout.
Get the workout in instead of skipping it.
Say no to what's easy when you know it's not right.
💡 Because the hard choices today build the strong, capable, thriving version of you tomorrow.