life's challenge.

life is short.  at birth we are forced to take a breath that kickstarts an adventure that is ours alone.  we grow.  we learn.  we feel.  it's inevitable.  as a child, we feel the days dwindle on as if they'll never end.  as we age, we begin to feel the minutes slipping away faster and faster.  we categorize and distinguish the different phases in our lives with memories or moments that commit themselves to long term memory, that take up space in our mental hard drives that can never be erased.  we begin to define ourselves by our accomplishment, or worse our failures.  we begin to let the clutter of life blind us from the truth of it all.  sometimes we can't explain our tears.  when we lose a loved one, an earthquake breaks the comfort we're used to walking on.  we try to take a step forward and we find our feet greeted by nothing.  we begin to fall, plunging quickly.  not sure where we're headed, we lash our or grasp on to anything we can find that may help us regain consciousness.  when we've hit the bottom we look up at the tall mountain of grief that we have to overcome.  each step up slices to the core.  it's in these moments that we're challenged to be our best selves.  darkness is always an option.  giving up is easiest when we feel like we don't have the strength to keep going.  people who don't love you will allow such behavior, and justify our actions for us.  it's our integrity that pushes us to find the light in another day.  in the end, it's relationships.  it's love.  time is so precious.  loss is the most painful, earth shattering experience we are asked to withstand.  it's the most motivating and inspiring occurrence that can reprogram our eyes to see life in a brand new, beautiful way.  it opens our hearts to experiencing all that we're capable of.  each day is a choice, a challenge, to live up to our potential.  life is a commitment to being our best selves.  to sharing life with others, and not taking a moment for granted.  we are so blessed with opportunities, life is fragile and precious.  life is a miracle. 




-- this post was inspired by a man i never had the opportunity to meet, but has touched my life in a wonderful way.  thank you for sharing your art and light with the world. thank you to Scott Haze for sharing the anniversary of your friend Brad Renfro with me today.  his presence in our lives is a beautiful thing, and will never be forgotten.