Thirty-Seven and Rising

As I prepare to end my 36th year of life, I can't help but to reflect upon the lessons that I have learned in this year. Usually, I am out celebrating, having a grand time with friends and family, but this year, I have chosen to do something a little different.

Over the past year and a half, to say the least, I have been learning how to adapt and find what is now my "new normal". Every single day has become somewhat a "birthday". I can't pretend that my days have been filled with bouquets of beauty, but I will say that if I were a flower, I'd be a rose. A rose starts as a seed, but with warm weather and water, it becomes a shoot and pushes itself up from the ground. Afterwards, thorns develop to help it hang on to whatever surface is around to survive. Then, it blooms!

One night, I ran across a song that seemed to be perfect for me. It was an old song, but it now has a new purpose in my life. As I began to rest, I heard these words:

"Shattered, but I'm not broken

Wounded, but time will heal

Heavy the load, the cross I bear

Lonely the road I trod, I dare

Shaken, but here I stand

Weary, Still I press on

Long are the nights, the tears I cry

Dark are the days, no sun in the sky, yes

Yet still I rise

Never to give up

Never to give in against all odds

Yet still I rise

High above the clouds

At times I feel low

Yet still I rise".

I welcome 37 with open arms!!!