The Climb

Your summit may seem unreachable
From the base looking up at the top.
Lower your eyes to the rocks in front of you—
Start climbing and don’t ever stop.

Your looming anxiety may hail doubt and fear
And freeze the new path before your feet.
Don’t retreat to the comforts by your fireplace;
Keep digging your boots into the sleet.

And yes.. your errors and failures may produce
Abysmally cavernous holes.
If you fall in, take a breath…
Climb out…
And get back on the trek to your goals.

So stop wishing and dreaming and plan your route,
And take your first step without dread.
Ignore how impossible the journey seems—
Don’t create another mountain in your head.

Along The Journey

It's not at the finish line where you find yourself. It’s not at the end of the race. It’s not when you reach your final goal.

It’s along the journey filled with jagged rocks, upwards climbs into thundering clouds, and dangerous dives towards a black abyss. 

It’s when you fall and pick yourself up, again and again, crying and hurting, yet still moving forward.

It’s in ignoring the naysayers and haters, dodging the evil eyes, and fighting off the worst of those villains — your own self-doubt. 

It's in the fears you conquer, and those you learn to live with to survive.

It’s in the easy plateaus, so quiet and peaceful that you see and feel things that were blocked-out by drive and ambition.

It’s in appreciating all of your small victories, the smiles you meet, the people who laugh with you and continue to jump and fall with you. 

It’s in every day you wake up, breathe deep, take a moment and continue on.

Along the journey is where you find yourself.

Rebirth, a Haiku

From the bright embers

Of life's pain and misery,

Your strength will arise.

Don't Be Them

The world is full of people eager to say:
"Give up."
"Quit now."
"You're not good enough."

Don't be one of those people.