A String of Pearls

Life was good at that point and things had fallen into place in such a way that I wasn’t afraid of the future. Though, of course, I’d been in this place before in life—when everything seemed to be following a sensible path—and knew it wasn’t a guarantee for anything. I was far enough out now, and healed not just emotionally, but healthier, too, physically, mentally, and spiritually. I could look back at the time when it wasn’t so good, when it was downright frightening, and realize that my current situation, my outlook—my own amazing view—was because my trail in life hadn’t been straight, hadn’t continued to be as obvious and well-marked as when I first set out. Not only did it become crooked and winding, making it more challenging the further I traveled, but I took a few wrong turns, stepped off course, sometimes, I’m afraid, intentionally. I climbed more than was necessary, walked in circles, backtracked, laid down more miles than I thought I would or ever could. It was easy to see now, as I looked back, where I had made a wrong turn. But it was those wrong turns, the uncertainty, the strength required to press on, the requisite problem solving, and even the necessity to blaze some new paths of my own, that brought me to where I am now. And where I am is a better place than where I set out for. I like what I have discovered, what I now understand, and where I stand.