# The Steady Light of Milestones

## Stones Along the Road

Life unfolds like a long, winding road. Milestones dot its edges—simple markers of distance traveled. They might be the first steps of a child, a quiet job well done, or the turn of another year. On December 23, 2025, as winter light fades early, these points remind us: we've come this far, not by force, but by quiet persistence.

## Pausing to See Clearly

We rush past them often, eyes fixed ahead. But stopping brings clarity. At a milestone, glance back. Notice the uneven ground you've crossed, the storms weathered, the small kindnesses that carried you. It's not about triumph or tallying wins. It's seeing the path shaped you, mile by mile, into who you are now.

## A Shared Journey

Consider an old trail in the woods, where stones worn smooth by time mark the way for walkers. One evening, a father and daughter reach the tenth stone. She counts them aloud, beaming. He kneels, traces the moss, and says, "Each one holds our steps together." They sit, share bread, and watch the sun dip. No fanfare, just presence.

In these pauses, milestones whisper: progress is shared, fragile, real.

*May your milestones, like stars on a clear night, guide without blinding.*