Today of all days (Patreon)

Good afternoon my dears. I hope you are feeling well today. I'm not feeling so hot but it's still nice out, and I got off work not too long ago so things are looking up.

Let me tell you about something. There is a hill I climb nearly every day. 89th street. It takes twenty minutes to climb the bountiful incline up all the way. Halfway however should you stop, you'll find a sign beneath a tree. There are many things left on this sign. Messages between others, playful jives, sometimes insults even. Last night as I was walking home I had stopped and found it was empty. So I sat for a moment, and wrote the words carefully. You never know when you'll need them.

Some people tell themselves not to stand up, or to act out or do anything for it being unable to change anything. I don't think we really give ourselves enough credit though. For the power our words and abilities have. My breath was shallow, my heart was heavy. On my way up this morning I had seen a response and suddenly..I didn't feel such a weight anymore. Don't count yourself out. You have all the power in the world, and that power is choice. To be a reminder. Not all changes need to be sweeping, huge or loud. Some can be momentary, and they mean the world.

On my break this afternoon I sat on a bench outside of work. There was an old woman that I sat next to and we talked about how beautiful it was today. That the air wasn't hot. Then we talked about politics, about the past and the way life seemed to change for us both. She had a wonderful smile but it was also tired. She didn't like the way things turned out. Not for her but for others. Before we went our separate ways, she told me " I'm sorry for the world we left for you. "

I chuckled, shook my head and took a breath. " You know, the sun is shining today. It's quiet, it's calm. I have my whole life ahead of me and I'm hopeful. Don't be sorry for that. I'm feeling pretty happy right now and hopefully you are too. "

Don't underestimate yourself. You've got a long way to go, and you've come pretty far already.