# Milestones on the Path

## Stones Along the Way

Life unfolds like a long, winding trail through open fields. Milestones aren't grand monuments or finish lines—they're simple stones, placed deliberately to mark distance covered. On January 19, 2026, as winter light filters through bare branches, I think of the ones I've passed: a first job, a quiet wedding, the birth of a child. Each stone feels ordinary in the moment, rough underfoot, but later reveals its weight. They remind us that progress isn't a sprint, but a steady walk, one step noticed only in hindsight.

## Pausing to Look Back

These markers invite us to stop. Not to celebrate loudly, but to breathe and remember. What stories do they hold? 

- The stone of loss, teaching resilience.
- The one of small victories, building quiet confidence.
- Shared stones with loved ones, weaving our paths together.

In their simplicity, they ground us. Without them, the trail blurs into endless motion. Pausing here, I see how each has shaped me—not perfectly, but truly.

## Toward the Next Horizon

Milestones point forward too. They whisper that the path continues, unmarked until we reach it. No need to rush; the next stone waits patiently. In 2026, with its uncertainties, this feels right: honor what's passed, then step on.

*One stone at a time, the trail becomes a life well walked.*