I have heard that life is similar to a book, each day is a page in our own personal story. Our stories are made up changes and transitions, or chapters, that describe portions of our story. Put them together and they describe our journeys. Each chapter in our life is full of different characters; some temporary, others more permanent. And just like a book, each chapter in our journey is connected in some way. Whether it's circumstances or relationships each page builds off the last. Maybe you meet someone who isn't significant in chapter two but will be in chapter five; or maybe something sad happens in the beginning or middle but ends just how it should on the last page.
I met one of my best friends when I was eleven - I had a bad hair cut, was overweight, and my face was the size of a cake. It was at a time when I was disappointed because all my friends were in other classes. I didn't know anyone, so I tried to make friends with someone. What at first seemed to be a misfortune ended up creating a friendship that has lasted for fourteen years so far. That particular friendship and other circumstances in my life have led me to numerous other friendships and people throughout my life - connections among pages and chapters that I would never want to change. Sad in the beginning but ends just how it should - although my story is not over just yet.
But what about the things that don't always end the way we think they should? Would it be fortunate if we could flip back a couple pages, maybe chapters, in our stories and say that we saw it coming - point out the flaw where it all began? Real life doesn't warrant that luxury. Often we think if we could go back, we'd see it coming, and change things - but that's the beauty in life - you can't predict your future and you sure as hell can't change your past. We call it beauty because beauty is unpredictable and certainly unchangeable.
If we can't go back or read ahead throughout our journeys, if all we can do is have hope in the idea that things will work out for the best, then the least we can do is help write our story. Because you can turn right or you can turn left, you can turn around or keep moving forward; it doesn't actually matter - just so long as the choice is your own - you will end up where you belong.
