Painting of the Matterhorn
The Matterhorn

Someone said something to me about someone close to my world.
“It looks like they’re bouncing back.” Hmmm. Thought I.
That’s the only way I know them to be.
Never down when the count has been called.
Always ready to keep going.
Same path. New tasks.
New Paths…Improved Tasks!

I do know some who don’t get back up. They stay down.
They may be wise in some ways, but not this way.
The blows come, and they slip away, back from their front.
I don’t call it ignorance, but it sure looks like defeat.
Truly. I thought they were smarter than that.

Me? I’m betwixt the two.
I’ve taken the blows. They changed my life.
Some things I thought were important suddenly are not.
I’ve given up, given in, walked away, and found something better.
I don’t stop moving forward. I’ve changed my focus.
Not every mountain must be scaled,
Nor every path trekked to the end.
But the thing that means a lot to me…
Keep making forward progress.

I’ve climbed a few mountains. Once to hunt Dall Sheep.
Over 10,000 feet slogged up, and I was thankful no kill was made.
That would have meant several trips for gear and meat…
Sometimes, you must summit the peak only once.
The remainder of the time, tell the story and paint the image.

I asked AI to think about it based on what I’ve written.

(I’ve had to clean up the grammar and adjust some words; the emphasis is mine. AI can sure reword nicely!)

Someone shared with me a tidbit about someone close to my world. “Looks like they’re bouncing back,” they remarked. Hmmm, I thought. That’s the only way I’ve known them to be—never faltering when the bell tolls—always poised to forge ahead, whether on familiar paths or venturing into new territories.

Yet, I’ve encountered those who remain grounded after being struck. They may possess wisdom in other realms, but not in this one. When adversity strikes, they retreat from the frontlines. I wouldn’t label it as ignorance, but it does bear a resemblance to defeat. Honestly, I expected them to exhibit greater resilience.

As for me, I find myself somewhere in between. I’ve weathered blows that have reshaped my existence. Priorities I once held dear suddenly lost their luster. I’ve surrendered, walked away, and discovered something superior. I refuse to stagnate. My focus has shifted, understanding that neither every peak needs conquering nor every path reaches its terminus. What truly matters to me is continual forward momentum.

I’ve ascended a few mountains in my time,
like the arduous trek in pursuit of Dall Sheep.
Over 10,000 feet climbed, and I found solace in returning without a kill.
To have succeeded would have meant numerous trips to ferry gear and meat—
a summit reached once suffices.
The subsequent retellings and painted memories become the enduring legacy.

How You Handle Life There's a certain poetry in defying expectations, in rising from the ashes when others expect me to smolder. Share on X

Therefore I will look to the LORD;
I will wait for the God of my salvation;
My God will hear me.
Do not rejoice over me, my enemy;
When I fall, I will arise;
When I sit in darkness, T
he LORD will be a light to me.
(Micah 7:7-8 NKJV)

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By Michael Gurley

Making Sense of Life, One Thought at a Time!