I believe in Stones

I don't believe in a set pathway through your life. I don't believe in predetermined fate. I don't even believe in someone else in control of our destiny. I believe in stones.

Stones that are given to you at the start. Stones used to build your road. It's human nature to make forks in the road. It's just a matter of where the road meets again. Stones that are frail. Easily broken. But also easily repaired. You can build the road alone. Or you can acquire other builders. Friends, family. Stones that can be paved in gold, paper, glass, or wood. Depending on the way you walk on it. Some build it forward. Some build it backwards. And very little build it as you go. Walking and placing them in front or behind you. Some roads are complete. Some are missing some stones throughout. But the missing ones give the road character.

I believe in stones. Stones who live and breathe just as we do. Shifting as we approach or as we depart. Stones that are more than just set paths. They are roads, splits, hills going up, hills going down, and most importantly bridges. We as people always come across the same bridge. Most tend to stare. Stare at the other side, at the endless pit below. A pit filled with darkness, monsters, inner demons, the laughter of your peers, the judgement of your models. 

Others turn away. Others decide that it isn't worth the effort. I'll just go around, they say. I'll build a new path, they say. When given their trial, they don't face it. Some make their choice with full confidence, most hesitate. Most reach out an attempt, but ultimately reject their efforts for the safe way. The easy choice. The lucky option. 

Others climb. They climb into the darkness. They force their minds to go head first into the very thing they try to avoid. In their minds, they are fixing the problem from within. Yet one of two outcomes will emerge. Either they do what they intend. They traverse the gap and climb out the other side, but changed. Altered in some way. The others will stay. They will get lost in the madness. Forget their way around. Lose the map they thought they could follow.

Others build. They use their stones to build over the gap, avoiding the problem entirely. Moving forward in the process. Sadly while avoiding it they find themselves in a tougher position. What many don't realize is the nature of the pit. It will grow, the darkness will slowly begin to creep out. Once it escapes they can no longer lay down their stones. They only choice they have is to run. Dropping the stones and fleeing in an attempt to never face their demons. 

Finally, Others will walk. They will see the pit, the gap, and the other side. They will hold their stones in hand, close their eyes, and take a step. When they open their eyes, they will be standing on the other side. That one leap of faith will reveal to them. Reveal that the gap is no more or smaller then it may seem. The was no gap, no pit, no stress. Just a crack in the way. 

Stones that will wait for you. Waiting on you to find them, see them, use them, and pierce the veil with. 

How will you lay your stones. Jagged, straightforward, smooth, bumpy, full, broken, forward, backwards. Or will they lay themselves. Will you just will them to fall as they may. Not adjusting them, tampering with them, or fixing what is without fault. Just walking until the road ends. Until the last stone has been placed and the road is the way it was meant to be. Standing at the end with the people who helped you build it, or maybe alone.

Or on rare chances, will you stand there with the memories of the journey. The forks, the gaps, the struggles, the hardships, the traps, or even the hearts built within the road. The memories that you choose to define you, to change you, to force your true colors to show

I don't believe in fate. I don't believe in Destiny. 

I believe in Stones