Knowing your values gives you that backbone. When you have a strong back, you can remain empathetic toward someone else without worrying that you’re being taken advantage of.

But knowing that if it feels uncomfortable or unfamiliar, then I’m heading in a good direction. It took time as I looked at the ground trying to find words to speak.

The child doesn’t see these objects only for what they were designed to be; they see them as solutions to a problem, tools for their imagination, or materials for creating something new. Your next step doesn’t have to be some grand transformation. It can simply be the next brushstroke on the canvas

Coming around to the other side of the route, there’s a flea market known as the Saturday Market, which takes place during the summer. Little did I know, there was an actual event going on.

Over the years, we’ve reminisced about the fun times we shared, talked about the incredible 100+ pounds he lost entirely on his own, and discussed the multiple surgeries he endured just to regain his mobility.

Day after day, the bird sat quietly, its wings folded against its body. Passersby would stop to admire its beauty, but the bird never made a sound.

Just a few days ago, I hit another wall. It was a blow that knocked me down cold. It wasn’t something I wished for or saw coming. It simply appeared around the corner and ran straight toward me, hitting me head-on.

Three weeks pass. He's sitting at the blackjack table when the dealer looks down at the cards. "Twenty-one. You win.". The gambler slams his fist on the table. "OF COURSE I WIN! I ALWAYS WIN!"

As the sun slips below the horizon on this Sunday evening, the world feels a little quieter, a little lighter.

We'd walk down the street to our local coffee shop, excited for our little adventure. You'd always get your famous hot chocolate with whipped cream and a cake pop, and then we'd pull out our books and read for a while.