A Life Worth Living…

 

There is a Chinese Proverb that says, “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.” I like the proverb because I believe that in it lies wisdom and hope. Life has always been overwhelming to me – for it has seemed like a thousand mile journey. I have learned recently, though, that all it takes to move forward on this seemingly long course is a single step – a step in the right direction – a step towards this journey called life. That single step that I am referring to is a commitment towards life. I made this commitment a few weeks ago when I started at the Crossroads program, and it has taken me a thousand miles already from where I was only then. I must only remember this commitment in the heat of life’s battles…

I used to be ambiguous as to whether or not I even desired this journey called life. Now that I have made a commitment to it, though, I must keep my eyes on the single step that moves me forward. I want to live, and not only live, but I desire to live a meaningful and beautifully abundant and unique
life. I want to dream – and dream big. I want to challenge myself and to celebrate the life that has been given to me. I want to choose life daily – and to walk in it without being paralyzed by fear. I want to know what it means to walk a thousand miles – and I want to enjoy it…over and over and over again.

Since I made this first step of commitment towards life, I have noticed that I have now begun to take ownership of my life, perhaps for the first time. I have started to learn again how to trust myself – and how to believe that I have what it takes to survive – even in the hardest of times. I have been
through the fires of life, the storms and the battles, and my feet are still shod to step…to walk…to journey across the path that is before me.

One of my very real passions in life is that of helping others, especially the down and out of the world…those who, perhaps, feel as though they can no longer walk the journey themselves. I am not sure at this time exactly how I want to do this, but I know that whatever career path I take it must have
this end goal in view. I also have a strong desire to travel and to work with the hurting overseas. This could take me to China or to India – or maybe somewhere else in that part of the world. Whatever the location, I want to walk my journey and to help others to walk theirs as well.

A life worth living will be, for me, a life where fear doesn’t reign and a life where judgment doesn’t rule. This life will be the embodiment of hope – hope in God, hope in myself, and hope in the people that surround me. While I myself and others are not perfect, I will strive to see and to touch the
desirable within both them and me. The life that I seek will not be easy but rewarding, full and never empty. I may have to travel on terrifying rocks, and up mountains and through valleys, and even off the beaten path, but I will always be traveling on the journey of life before me. I will not give
up, though at times I must give in. I will learn how to excel at reading the roadmaps and signs that are around me. When I take a curve too fast, or fall off a hill and have to climb up again, I will not stay discouraged or be filled with hatred. I will walk, run, and crawl…whatever movement I might
make to show that life is what is important, no matter the circumstances, the emotions, or the thoughts that chase after me or show themselves before me.

I will dance and I will sing. I will hurt and I will cry. I will move with vigor and reluctance. I will be humbled and exalted. I will hope and I will despair. I will be full and I will grow hungry. I will move forward and not
give up. The hard times will teach me. The beautiful times will encourage me. The journey of a thousand miles has begun with a single step. I am proud to be on this journey. -Kallie K. Turner