Rising Above

I know that I've grown up, but it's been slow, slow growth,

The kind you'd need months and a time lapse camera to see,

Somewhere on the Discovery channel.

Growing up has happened as freezing rain and biting wind and burning sun have happened,

Growing up has lead me to entwine my roots firmly within the soil,

To slowly unfurl branches, one by one, as the tree of my life inches skywards.

Now, I look down, and am shocked to see how far I've come since my days as a sapling;

I am tough, I am strong, I am sure of my footing in the soil and sure of my outstretched branches.

Growing up has been all the little moments along the way, I realize with a jolt,

The tiny choices, the little acts of choosing to be selfless over selfish,

Little moments of choosing kindness over anger,

All of the little moments that have, with the endless march of time,

Slowly warmed the freezing rain,

Slowly calmed the biting wind to a gentle lull,

Slowly softened the burning sun to a gentle glow of warmth.

I wouldn’t do anything different,

Not a single thing, because it all led me here, to the person I am today.

The good and the bad, the light and the dark, all worked together to make me who I am.

If I hadn’t weathered the storms I did, my trunk and my roots would be weaker than they are.

I look towards the future, to the sky, excited,

Because I know that whatever comes my way,

I can use it to grow taller and stronger and better, just like I’ve done before.