# Milestones Along the Way

## Stones in the Stream

Life flows like a steady stream, and milestones are the stones we notice along the riverbed. They aren't grand barriers or endpoints—just quiet markers, smoothed by time and water. Some we step on without thought, others we pause at, feeling the cool weight underfoot. On a walk by the water last winter, I picked up a small, rounded stone, pocketed it as a reminder: progress isn't always loud; it's the subtle shift from one point to the next.

## Moments That Matter

These markers hold meaning because they echo our choices. A first job, a deep conversation, the day a child takes their first steps—they stack up, not as trophies, but as proof of motion. We don't always celebrate them right away. Sometimes, it's years later, sorting through old photos or letters, that we see the path they've outlined. They're invitations to breathe, to say, "I've come this far."

- The quiet finish of a long book.
- A shared meal after a tough year.
- Waking to snow on a still morning.

## Stepping Forward

What draws us onward isn't reaching the next stone, but trusting the current. Milestones teach patience: the stream carves its own course, and our job is to move with it, grateful for the ground beneath. In marking them, we honor not just distance covered, but the steady rhythm of showing up.

*Today, January 20, 2026, another stone gleams in the light—may yours do the same.*