Stepping Stones...life lessons found in the everyday

It seems that as we mature, we also become more contemplative. We look back and laugh, wonder and realize those crossroads we have encountered…could we, would we have done it different?…why?…and just how did these crossroads really affect our lives? Oh yes, we all know that good can come from every encounter and every moment we live. But did we really get it?…or did we just sort-of twinkle-toe through the years oblivious? Do we appreciate those and that which made a distinctive difference?…or did we miss the point entirely? Oh those bad decisions, or hurtful situations that caused us to weep…do we continue to blame them?…and wallow in them? And now that we realize that life is quickly moving on, what do we make of it all? Did we do enough? Can we now do more? Did we see that which was most important? Did we find our values?…our ethics?…our own worth? Did we realize the meaning? We come to terms with many things. Over the years we may have settled…or is it just acceptance for honesty and truth? How do we wish to spend our time? What do we care about most? Do we still live with imagination?…a dream?…and hope? And what of our attitude?…has it changed?…for the better?…or do we live in a murky pond, stagnate and swimming around in the same premise we have lived our entire life? Are we willing to accept a probability or possibility? Are we willing to admit we were wrong?…or the need to say, “I’m sorry”? Can we now look forward to every day with anticipation and maturity?…or do we continue to look back for what might have been? Then there is our behavior…did we finally figure out that it is better to take our time to do it right the first time, instead of having to go back over and over, or maybe accepting mediocrity as status quo? Life begins to take on different shades of color and form and light as we near the top of the mountain, seeing the other side. Climbing up the first time we may have made the trip too fast. We may have missed some very important, eye-opening, revealing, or even profound “stuff”. But now that we see with wiser eyes, we may either head down the other side, filled with regret…or continue processing forward, seeing the climb anew and afresh, paced and excited for the adventure. For this time we are aware of so much more…this time we see with our spirit, heart, and soul all that which our eyes might have missed. And this time, we accept the end as our new beginning, just waiting for us as we move forward, for it is not done…it is never done…it is eternal.