Not bitter, just seasoned.
Seasoned like the roots of a mountain
a mountain weathered in storms
while her roots drink from the obscured wells of strength.
Not jaded, just careful.
Careful like delicate steps
as if balancing on the threads of moonlight
deliberate and precise
steps designed to tell a story.
Not lost, just exploring.
Exploring like a child chasing fireflies
captivated by the light but too afraid to reach out
should delicate wings and lights fade away in my fingers.
Not cold, just guarded.
Guarded like a fortress
gates closed, locked, and abandoned
as it waits for the most patient souls.
Not naïve, not hardened, not fragile, not stagnant.
Just hopeful, just thoughtful, just strong, just steady.
Still tender, still rebuilding
finding home in my own company
and slow burn
as I take the scenic route.
There is a delicate balance between personal growth, resilience that comes with it while guarding yourself. You must also try to remain open to the world. It is easy to close yourself off and pull away — shut down and coast through your days while holding everyone and everything at arm’s length. Life’s challenges will season you. The hours spent in post-secondary education and post-graduate studies, with books, lectures, and papers, do not prepare you as much as experience does. There are things books cannot teach us, things we must learn through the wisdom gained from doing. Emotions and life’s trials are no different. Sometimes the challenge is not in the experience itself but in what can happen after. The challenge is to not be hardened. Instead, I must emerge stronger while being open, accepting, and adaptable.
You can take careful and intentional steps after a lesson in life while exploring life’s relationships and experiences openly. Continue to remain open to possibilities while still protecting yourself. Hesitancy is a reaction cultivated through hardships but the fear of losing something precious should not halt you in your tracks. It should not shadow your radiance or dampen your pursuit of discovery and growth. The scenic route prioritizes the journey over the destination. That destination is always changing — at least, that’s what I’ll tell myself.
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