Uncharted Territory

Struggles. Challenges. Difficulties. Pain. Confusion. 

We all experience these kinds of situations. Ones that leave us crestfallen in the nadir, ones that try to steal our kindness, love, care and good faith for all. But where would I be if it wasn’t for these situations? Where would any of us be?

Nanakorobi yaoki – Fall down seven times, get up eight. – Japanese proverb 

I know I am able to stand here today tall (despite being 5’3”), strong, happy and confident because of the strength, resilience and courage that shines brighter in the dark. When I turn around and look at all I’ve been through, I can’t help but cherish it all. 

As I navigated through the uncharted territory of my life, I came across deserts, rivers, forests and caves in places where I never thought they would be. In the desert, when all the ropes tossed to me turned out to be too short, I rediscovered self-love. The rivers I met carried away my tears while giving me a surface to reflect and see myself in a different perspective. In the forests a battle call was sent to my fears causing them to emerge, and the support and protections from the shrubs and branches ensured my victory. In the caves I had a chance to renew. As my wounds began to heal and my fortitude regenerated, I saw the sun begin to rise and heard the birds begin to sing a song. 

A song of love, compassion and gratitude. Love for the one who had moments when all strength was lost in the limbs and bravery flickered in the heart. Compassion for the one who saw no way out. And gratitude for the one who continued to walk (sometimes crawl) even when there was no destination in sight.

If you’re going through hell, keep going. – Winston Churchill

While going through your uncharted territory, remember to feel the ache in your heart, breathe in the humid thick darkness, and memorize the ground where you fell. Also remember to listen to the muffled voices of your potential, kindness and love struggling to become free, and taste the sweetness of possibility and encouragement which keeps you going. Doing this ensures that when you come out on the other side, you never wish to be back on the first side. If your growth was where you were, you would have stayed there.

If you don’t recognize yourself, that means you did it right. – Taylor Swift; Song: Dear Reader

Bear in mind, there is no guarantee that if we didn’t go through those difficult times, we would be here: kind, hopeful, caring, and loving. So let’s appreciate all we went through, the big and small, the battles and retreats, the remembered and forgotten.

Now as I turn towards the leading path to keep walking ahead, all I can say is: just because you don’t know, understand or see your growth, doesn’t mean it’s not happening. 

Peaks. Opportunities. Possibilities. Growth. Understanding.