# Stones Along the Path

## Measuring What Matters

Milestones are simple markers—stones set by the roadside, whispering how far we've come. They don't shout about grand victories; they quietly tally the steps, the days, the small choices that add up. In life, we often chase the horizon, forgetting these humble signs. A first word spoken, a hand held through worry, a quiet evening alone with thoughts—these are our stones, proof of movement forward.

## The Pause That Sustains

What draws us to a milestone isn't the number etched on it, but the chance to stop. We lean against it, catch our breath, look back at the winding trail. That pause rebuilds us. It turns scattered efforts into a story we can see. Without these rests, the path blurs into exhaustion. With them, every mile feels earned, shared even if walked alone.

## Carrying the Lessons Ahead

These markers don't end the journey; they point onward. Each one carries a lesson: patience in persistence, grace in stumbles. As 2025 draws near its close, I think of my own stones this year—a mended friendship, a skill quietly mastered, mornings met with resolve. They remind me progress isn't a race, but a steady walk, enriched by what we notice.

*On December 17, 2025, may your next milestone find you present and grateful.*