This past Sunday, I caught the tail end of an interview on CBS News Sunday Morning about movies and the elusive cinematic experience. The interviewee was discussing the shift in how we consume films—people are now averaging two movie theater visits a year, but they’re watching around seven movies a month online. That statistic feels pretty on point for me. When asked about making quality movies and the uphill battle to draw people back into theaters, the interviewee acknowledged how steep the climb is. But then he said something that really resonated with me: “Indeed it is steep. Indeed it is hard. But it’s not impossible. You tighten up your boots and climb.”

That quote struck me because, well, that’s life, isn’t it? It’s certainly my day-to-day reality in the nonprofit sector and beyond. We’re all climbing some hill, whether it’s trying to get people back into theaters or keeping community services running smoothly. No matter how steep the path, the choice to keep climbing is something we make every single day.

In my work, there are countless challenges—tight budgets, a never-ending to-do list, sometimes pushing to get people to see the value in programs or services that are essential but often overlooked. The metaphorical hill is steep and seems to get steeper the further we go. But just like that interviewee said, it’s not impossible. You lace up, put your head down, and keep going. Sometimes it’s the smallest steps forward that make the biggest difference over time.

The cinematic experience is about immersion and engagement, and in many ways, that’s what I strive for in my professional life as well—getting people engaged, involved, and invested in causes that matter. The path to those goals may be difficult, but they are absolutely worth the effort. Whether it’s a mountain of paperwork, or breaking through to make real community impact, the climb continues. And I’ll be tightening up my boots for another day of it tomorrow.