The Journey

The dimly lit path was long and arduous, and not without its numerous obstacles and tempting side paths. But she had made it this far. She could go further. It was only mind over matter, right? “Right”, she declared with only the slightest wavering note in her voice.

She had heard tales of side paths eventually leading off into overgrown jungles where terrifying trees grabbed at your hair and made biting remarks about slow progress before enveloping you within wooden and unyielding cores. Other paths were rumored to lead to sinking sand pits which held you captive until either someone else came along to rescue you or you found the strength to pull yourself out. She felt that she was strong enough but still found herself hoping that those stories came from people with more fanciful imaginations. Perhaps the scariest path of all though, was the one she was currently pursuing. None of her close friends or family could tell her what she’d find on this path because no one had ever ventured down it. She was simply following her heart and the sometimes wayward directions of well-meaning strangers.

And so she had continued down the deeply shaded path until it led her to a clearing with only a steep ledge laying beyond it. That was it. Nothing else.  She had looked around with confusion creasing her youthful face. Had this whole journey been for naught? Was there nothing more beyond this point except a significant drop and painful death? Did nothing more exist beyond what was on the known paths?

Disappointment had rendered her completely motionless while her thoughts circled like hummingbirds caught in a cyclone.

It was then, in the stillness of the moment, that she had suddenly realized her journey down this path wasn’t over. The precipice in front of her must be yet another obstacle.

Taking deep breaths she forced herself to stand inches from the edge. She didn’t want to look down because she knew the dizzying sensation would kill her nerves. Instead, she quieted the voices of self-doubt that had kept her in decision paralysis for years, chose to view the dizziness as excitement, and jumped into the great abyss.

She knew immediately that she had made the right decision. She knew because instead of falling, she flew. Gravity was no longer her master.