still thankful

Do you ever see photos of yourself when you were younger 

And you think, wow, I look so good, and healthy, and strong

I don’t remember exactly when, or maybe I do 

But life happened

It hardened me. It hurt me. It saddened me. It left me with some scars, both physically and emotionally. It left me with some gray hairs and some no hairs. It left with the collapse of nearly everything I had poured my life into. 

But I’m thankful. Not because of yesterday. Or even today. Not because of the things that have or have not happened. I’m thankful because I can still see who I’ll be on the other end.

And I think it’ll look a lot closer to the happy, healthy, stronger version of myself. With wisdom and life’s journey to share.