apogee
noun

- the highest point in the development of something; a climax or culmination

- the most successful, popular, or powerful point

- the point in the orbit of the moon or a satellite at which it is furthest from the earth

The Cambridge Dictionary, Merriam-Webster

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WORD ORIGIN

The word "apogee" traces back to the Greek term apogeion (ἀπόγειον), which combines apo- (meaning "away" or "far") and ge (meaning "earth"). In Greek, it referred to the point in an orbit farthest from the Earth. The term made its way into Latin as apogaeum and then into French as apogée before arriving in English in the 17th century.

Initially, “apogee” was strictly an astronomical term, used to describe the farthest point of an object orbiting Earth. Over time, however, it acquired a metaphorical meaning, signifying the highest point or climax of a process, achievement, or experience. This expanded usage, denoting the peak or zenith, has become common in both English and other languages, reflecting the word’s journey from specific scientific jargon to general vocabulary.

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BEYOND THE SUMMIT

What Happens After We Reach Our Peak?

Nature's greatest lesson might be the inevitability of change. The moon reaches its apogee – its furthest point from Earth – only to begin its journey back. A wave crests at its highest point just before it starts to fall. A civilization achieves its golden age precisely when the seeds of its decline begin to sprout.

This pattern appears everywhere: in careers, relationships, creative projects, and personal growth. The Japanese cherry blossoms are most beautiful at their peak – and that's exactly when they begin to fall. There's profound wisdom in this natural rhythm, this dance of rise and fall. Understanding apogee means understanding that peak moments are precious precisely because they're temporary.

Consider the athlete who wins Olympic gold, the entrepreneur who sells their company for millions, or the artist who creates their magnum opus. These apogees are moments of triumph, but they can also lead to a loss of direction or motivation. The key is to recognize that apogees are not endpoints but milestones in a larger journey.

Recognizing when we’re at an apogee doesn't mean bracing for decline. Instead, it means having the wisdom to fully appreciate the moment while beginning to plant seeds for the next phase of growth.

Helga & Paul Smith

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SYNONYMS

acme, apex, APOGEE, apotheosis, ascendancy, at the height of, at the peak, at the pinnacle, at the summit, at the top of the game, at the zenith, best, big time, bloom, blooming, blossom, brim, brink, cap, capstone, ceiling, climax, cloud nine, consummation, copestone, crescendo, crest, crown, crowning glory (moment, point), culmination, cusp, denouement, eminence, epitome, extremity, finale, finest hour, flowering, full bloom (measure, ripeness), furthest point, golden age, head, height, heyday, high noon (point, spot, tide, water mark), highest degree (level, point), highlight, king of the hill, limit, maximum, meridian, mountain top, ne plus ultra, noon, noonday sun, noontime, on top of the world, optimum, paramount, payoff, peak (performance), perfection, pink, pinnacle, pole, prime, prize, spire, sublimity, sum, summit, superlative, supreme moment, the limit, the max, the most, the tops, the ultimate, tipping point, tiptop, top, top dog (drawer, notch, of the heap, of the mountain, rung, shelf),topmost, tops, ultimate, upper limit, utmost (extent), verdure, vertex, watershed moment, zenith

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SMUGGLE OWAD into a conversation today, say something like:

“APOGEES remind us to savour the moment,... then start planning our journey to the next summit.”

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