Where ever the trail leads......

Recently I had a friend tell me he thought life was a test....
Just one big learning experience that we are to traverse our way through....
The ups and downs that lead us to that final exam....
I'm not one to often disagree with someone I respect...
But in this case he is totally wrong...
Life to me is not a test.
Its an adventure.
Series of amazing experiences that create who we are...
The very fabric of our being....
I've always felt that each person, each experience we embrace is meant to create us into better versions of ourselves.
Each person is a gift... who has something valuable to share...
And you... you are meant to touch each life you come in contact with...
Good or bad... your purpose on this earth is to impact lives...
Looking at my own adventure to this date I can easily tell you those of you who held the deepest impact.... and those who quietly walked by...
Today....
I'm thinking specifically about 3 people....
One who tore me apart... so I could build myself back up...
The most precious gift I've ever been given....
The gift of myself.. inner strength...
Self Respect...
Self Love....
Yet... he stole something precious...
My belief in real love...
Trust...
and value....
The second... a dear friend who pushed me back to the trails...
Who challenged me from afar... sharing his mountain passion through his words...
Igniting in me that fire again....
through the encouragement...
The kindness... and the challenge placed before me...
I embraced each trail on my own...
Learning to trust myself again...
To be strong for myself...
To really love myself.. to laugh with myself...
To embrace my life....
Because of you....
I am content with me... just being me....
I have grown...
I have developed a deeper passion for the trails...
And I have come to love you as my dearest brother....
And lastly...
My most beautiful friend....
The one who suffered so much while I too suffered...
Who showed me that we can move on...
no matter how broken....
it is because of you dear friend...
I once again beleive in love....
I beleive in relationships...
You have proven to me that no matter how strong we are...
This adventure is far better shared than faced alone...
You have shown me that there is a perfect friendship out there...
The kind that challenges you to grow...
The kind that makes you a better you...
The kind that respects your space...
Your need to be you...
While enhancing everything you are....
Tomorrow I will toast you...
I will love you...
And I will watch with the rest of the world as you take this journey with your best friend....
And I will know that I am a better person....
Because you have shown me that no matter how hard the journey is...
No matter how scary....
If we don't take that first step...
We might miss out on something magical....
you my friend have once again made me beleive in love....
and made me realize that it is time I stepped out of my own shadow and took a leap of faith...
and I am forever grateful....
Just be warned....
It's your turn to pick up the pieces...
Spy on blind dates...
And laugh at me behind my back as I moon over my perfect friend.....
Yes...
I beleive life is an adventure....
And I'm ready....
Ready to share it....
Or face it on my own....
where ever the trail may lead...