“But wood is tired and the wood is old and we’ll make it fine if the weather holds, but if the weather holds we’ll have missed the point. That’s where I need to go.”

From “The Wood Song” by the Indigo Girls

I have always known way down deep where I need to go. I have never been too scared of inclement weather, or obstacles, or failures, or diagnoses. My heart has always been tuned to yes. Even in my moments of greatest doubt, I have known where I need to go. Knees knocking with fear, knowing the beauty of impermanence, clicking the heels of my ruby slippers, after visiting a Balinese healer, I have known where I need to go.

Right now, the weather is not holding. So much threatens our very breath. I could list 100 things that weigh me down and it would not be exhaustive of what we all hold. All of it can keep us from where we need to go. Storms are not the point. The point is that storms pass. The obstacles are not the point. The point is that obstacles remind us we are flexible and strong. The failures are not the point. The point is that failure teaches deep lessons that we carry with us as we learn. Diagnoses are not the point. The point is that diagnoses don’t define us. Somewhere in it all — through it all and because of it all — we get where we need to go.