Not much of a post this morning, all. Still sick. Not sleeping. Yada, yada, yada. And not feeling terribly inspired. Sorry.

But, despite my current state, we have reached the 1/4 mark of the year. And as I pause and look back, I am pleased with how far we have come, and I am eager to get even farther down the trail with my band of young traveling companions. I left them on their own yesterday, as I went home sick. And I am sure they got along just fine without me, which admittedly is thrilling and depressing all the same, for I like to think that they need me, and they do, but I’d like to cling to them a bit longer before letting go. And, to be sure, letting go is the plan. With each passing day, I push them farther away, seeking to give them greater ownership, seeking to make myself unnecessary in what is really their journey, not mine. I am simply, or rather strive to become, a tag along. And in that striving, I find a small measure of nobility in my purpose. Opportunity.

I have the opportunity not to lead them to the end of a journey. No, I have the opportunity to give them a chance to find their own ways, to find their own selves as they advance into their own unexplored territories, discovering the wonder of the world without and their own powerful person within. In the end, I matter little, but in that end, I find all that matters: an opportunity to have experienced life and learning with the young spirits with whom I was lucky enough to walk with for a stretch. And in that end, I am fulfilled. I am complete. I am honored.

Today’s Trail

Along today’s trail we will…

…begin with a Smiles and Frowns.

…wrap up a theme activity (didn’t get to it yesterday since I was gone).

…reflect in our Journey Journals.

…end with a Sappy Sy Rhyme.

Happy Thursday, all.

Do. Reflect. Do Better.