I'm sitting here, staring at two blank walls and closed shutters covering up the only windows in this room. My hands feel sort of clammy as they press against each letter on the keyboard and I type through this feeling of nothingness, numbness. There's only one word that's floating through my mind, and has been for the past few days:

Forward

Such a small, simple word that describes and means so much to me. Everyone is going through something at this very moment, something that bites at their heart, or their mind; leaves them wandering around a treeless forest. Whatever that means. When it all comes down to it, I'm sure we can all settle on an agreement that life is hard.

Someone very close to me always made sure to remind me to "keep moving forward" when every piece of you wants to melt onto the floor and curl up into the fetal position. Honestly, that won't get you anywhere and won't make anything better. Stand up on those two feet that were made to carry you, and start walking. Take one step, and then another. Now you're on your way. Don't look back at that disaster you left in the dust. Why? Because it's in the past, and all that matters now is what's in front of you, forward.

These challenges become a part of who we are because they encourage us to grow past our walls of comfort, and to let go of those things we cannot control. Acceptance, confidence, trust...These are all necessary. But, before any of those words come into play, it's time to stand up, and to start moving, not straight, but forward.