Steps, Stops, and Milestones

I am very lucky to be able to spend a few days by the ocean. This morning, I went for a long walk along the shore. I love walking, but sometimes it makes me tired. I work hard to stay fit, but when you are in your 50s, not everything is as easy as it used to be. This morning was one of those days. I felt that I could not make my usual walking distance. I needed to stop now and then. Stopping was not only for rest but also to assess if I could go a little bit farther. I reached my goal by simply taking one step at a time. I sat on the rocks for a while, and then I decided to continue. After another short rest, I returned to where I started. It was a good walk—a time for both the body and the soul: to exercise, reflect, and pray.

As you and I approach the end of 2024 and wonder what the new year, 2025, will bring, let us use the time we’ve got and continue:

·      Stopping to reflect

·      Being grateful for every step

·      Looking back with gratitude

·      Looking forward with hope

·      Being realistic and revising your goals

·      Being kind and gentle to yourself

·      Accepting changes in life and yourself

·      Being ready for new

·      Learning from experience

And one more thought: never stop believing in yourself but rely on God as the one who allows you to do so. Our life is a gift, and each milestone of our life is His grace for us—the Giver of Life.