# Milestones in Plain Text

## Stones on a Quiet Path

Life unfolds like a long, winding trail. Every so often, we reach a stone— a milestone. It might be a child's first step, a long-awaited job, or simply surviving a hard year. These aren't grand monuments but simple markers, placed where the ground feels steady. On this winter day in 2026, I pause at one: another turn around the sun, with its quiet lessons etched deeper.

## Noticing What Matters

We rush past these stones, eyes on the horizon. But stopping changes everything. A milestone invites reflection: What carried me here? What weighs me down? In the simplicity of Markdown—plain text, no frills—we record them. No need for fanfare. Just words that hold truth:

- A shared laugh after loss.
- Hands held through uncertainty.
- Small choices that built courage.

This act turns fleeting moments into anchors.

## Forward with Gentle Steps

Milestones aren't endpoints; they're breaths between strides. They remind us the path is ours to shape, one stone at a time. Looking ahead, the trail beckons—not with promises of ease, but with space for more markers, more stories.

*Today, place your stone; tomorrow's path will thank you.*