Seeing My Shadow

"...sometimes it's your own shadow standing in your way..." 

(a random lyric from a song by Kenny Loggins that I don't know the name of.)

It's brutal and heavy dose of reality when you realize that you are the only one stopping you from making your next move…whatever that move is. Sure you blame it on everyone and their mama, the weather, and the a-a-a-a-aalcohol... but you know the real truth. It's all just convenient smoke-screens and scapegoats in the right place at the right time to be your patsy.

me and my windblown shadow via instagram

I've been standing in my own way for years. I'm standing in my own way right now…AND just admitted it in public! (#nofilter) I let my circumstances and my mistakes define me. I let the shadow of disappointments and missed opportunities shroud me in shoulda, woulda, couldas. Sometimes all I see is my shadow. Well, what should I expect when I'm always looking down, right?

But every now and then…once in a blue moon... I don't.   I look forward. Not down. Not back. I even look up and see rays of hope peeking through gloomy clouds of doubt. I occasionally remember how far I've come despite the obstacles. The fact that I'm still standing here with the ability to smile is all that matters.

In these moments, I can't see my shadow. I am facing the rising sun and letting the light illuminate my spirit and the endless possibilities. My shadow (along with the past) is behind me.

The trick is to always face the sun…even when you can't see it. 

Damn, this would have been a great post for Groundhog Day, right? But neither one of us should be withheld from our light. (and I made that rhyme on purpose.)