The changes in our life must come from the impossibility to live otherwise than according to the demands of our conscience not from our mental resolution to try a new form of life." -Tolstoy

'Cause I have been where you are before

And I have felt the pain of losing who you are

And I have died so many times, but I am still alive

I believe that tomorrow is stronger than yesterday

And I believe that your head is the only thing in your way

I wish that you could see your scars turn into beauty

I believe that today it's okay to be not okay

C.J. Perri

“Nobody will protect you from your suffering. You can't cry it away or eat it away or starve it away or walk it away or punch it away or even therapy it away. It's just there, and you have to survive it. You have to endure it. You have to live through it and love it and move on and be better for it and run as far as you can in the direction of your best and happiest dreams across the bridge that was built by your own desire to heal.” 
― Cheryl Strayed

Carry bravery for experiencing the unknown. Carry bravery for events that push you to evolve. Carry appreciation for beauty...the beauty in people and places.
The beauty in the quietest moments in the loudest of places. The beauty that is everywhere all the time, and the beauty that often gets overlooked.

Without you, well you left the cage door open 
and your pretty bird just flew. 
And I never knew that I could fly so high 
or the sky could be this blue. 
I can't believe it's real, 
so this is how it feels, 
me without you.

J.N.

“How wild it was, to let it be.” -Cheryl Strayed

I know that time has passed because my perspective has changed.

 And it's been only slight alterations,

with very subtle turns down the long path.

Part of me wonders,

could this just be the side effects of growing old?

Even gazing back into the past

I feel unbelievably equipped for the journey forward.

And the unsettled churning of inevitable changes have become soothing,

and flows like gentle waves over the shore.

I"m filling my head with daydreams about beach sunsets,

and tall palm trees,

endless summers,

and panoramic ocean views.

I feel the West calling and it's strong,

and always the roads have lead West with a short visit East.

But sometimes you have to take a few steps back to take a few steps forward.

I am endlessly and uncontrollably thankful for the journey.

The opportunity to even take the steps forward into the unknown adventures.

Free of the responsibility to health, wealth, or other humans,

I am wandering the unexplored corridors of this place we live.

Soaking in adventures and the people along the way.

I love my life and I wouldn't change a thing.

The beauty of living without regret is being able to evaluate each situation,

to celebrate triumph,

and to construct the unexpected surprises as necessary to grow and transform.

And credit it goes to those along the way,

that have offered selfless support,

surprise encouragement,

kind words.

Those who have stood by and let me find my way,

in my own way.

I urge you still to continue to grow and evolve and transform.

Work to understand and practice love to the best of your capability.

Understand the importance of relationships,

learn to depend on others and let others depend on you,

but all the while don't break off pieces of yourself in the process.

Maintain the originality of the person you strive to be,

Obtain a better balance of tending to your self and giving back to other people.

You never know what moments will be long and which will be short.

We only control the here and now,

and we can only make educated decisions and set goals for the future.

But there is a necessary flexibility as we proceed through this lifetime.

Don't forget this.

And I've seen the most beautiful example of love recently.

This has been both inspirational and encouraging.

I've seen people grow together and learn a healthy co-dependence.

I've seen good appearing from hard times.

But I've also seen people grow apart,

which sometimes happens-for both intentional and unintentional reasons.

But don't lost hope in it all,

know that somethings are inevitable and others are meant to be.

Proceed with caution but maintain your self-identity.

For better or worse,

things will happen the way they are meant too.

and I still think about you,

but I know that it's okay,

and maybe our paths will cross again someday.

it all matters.

There is beauty in the transformation.