Au contraire?

One of those days.

Where everything seems to be going on fine.. everything in place. You're so sure about where you are, where you're heading, and who you're with.

And then BAM! Life throws this thing on the side of your path. You're walking, and you notice it, momentarily distracted. On closer look, it's a shiny stone that has potential for you to chisel into something beautiful.

What DO you choose to do then?

Do you stay back, certain you made the right decision?

Do you go ahead, not willing to waste time on something unsubstantial?

Or do you carry that heavy stone along to where you go? Burdened by its presence, yet unable to let go?

I have yet to decide.

Staying back is a terrible gamble. Going ahead leaves room for wishful thinking.

But carrying it along? That would only bring pain and regret.

Anyway.

I know I'm not a sculptor. I would never be able to chisel that stone into something extraordinary. But should I try?

Or should I just kick it away as I would any other rock that was in my way?

One thing I know, is that I will not carry it along.

Why? Because the person walking with me will be bogged down on our journey as I struggle with the load.

That makes me wonder now.

What if I was walking alone?

Would I stay back and experiment with each shiny stone I encounter?

Or would I just swing my arms, and skip into the unknown, paying no heed to what is around me?

I would prefer the second one.

To be free as a butterfly, flitting from flower to flower, with no fixed place to call my own.

To live as it comes, the wind in my face and my feet in the water.

Reading a book and scratching my cat behind her ears.

And watching you all, working so very hard.

To build castles, relationships and meaning

On something that doesn't even exist.

A life.