This Road

It hasn't been easy. But you've never made it look hard. Can you believe it? You're here. 365 steps. You're tired. Your knees ache. With tattered shoes, your feet feel sore. Your lungs burn, but you're comforted by the gentle breeze which dances across your face. You made it. You're overjoyed, but your heart is still heavy. Not everyone who began the trek, made it. They've been left behind. However, they continue to travel through the corridors of your heart and memory. Friends. Associates. Family. Lovers. Now is the time, just for a moment, to rest. Now is the time to reflect.

The road you've traveled has been an enlightening one. One word: Amazing. You celebrated a birthday. As the Best Man, you smiled as you watched your good friend marry the woman of his dreams. You enjoyed time with good friends. You smiled, laughed and cried. You felt determined, frustrated, hopeful and hopeless. You learned about yourself this time around. You're no longer afraid of You. Instead you yearn to understand. You have strengths and each day you're working to make them stronger. You are not perfect. And for the first time, you can accept that. You're learning, with patience, to fix the ones which are able to be fixed, and live with the ones which cannot. You're stronger, now. You're better. Your eyes are tired. Your legs are heavy. Yet, you will continue. Today you stand tall.

It's becoming clear to you now. You have a gift. And today, you understand it's not all you have. You're a better person. You understand life's law of averages. You learned to slow down and think. Haste? No more. Each day can take it's time. Not everyone will accept you. And that's OK. You're valuable. Yet, you are replaceable. And knowing this, everyday you strive to fight for your position in the world. You've had great triumphs. And the journey has also brought you to your knees. You have yet to even scratch the surface. You've learned that people come into your life for a reason--even if they do not stay. You've found love. Or did love find you? There's joy in pain. And there's pain in joy. You're learning how to live. And that's all that is required.

There were times you believed you couldn't travel any further. But, you did. You can't stop now. There's more traveling to do. You've crossed to the other side. You've crossed into a new year. Make sure today, you're better than you were yesterday. Every step should be stronger than the one you took before. Strive for perfection, eventhough you will never become flawless. Embrace it. Embrace You. Learn to finally embrace Them. Solve the riddles of life. There's more traveling to do. There are more battles to be won—and lost. There are more blessings on the way. There are more tests.

This road is the truth.

It hasn't been easy. But you've never made it look hard.


---EOB.