There are 197 steps to the beach at this house.
I’ve counted every treacherous step.
This path isn’t gentle. It is steep and weaves through thick trees, branches that make me duck and swerve by, thorns that hang across the trail like warnings, and wooden stairs that descend like they were carved out of the hillside by someone determined to reach the bottom no matter what.
It’s not the kind of trail for the un-brave. It is for the fearless. The ones who really want to get to the destination. Those determined to take the difficult journey to reach it.
About halfway down, you start to wonder if you will ever get there and if it is worth it. The steps feel steeper the trees thicker. You think about turning back.
But your heart whispers, keep going.
The air shifts, a trace of salt, a hint of breeze, and something in you knows, you’re close.
Then, finally, the trees open.
And then, just like that, you’re standing at the edge of it all.
The wide, wild beach stretched out in front of you.
And suddenly, the effort is rewarded.
Just like in life.
Some of the most beautiful places in life aren’t easy to reach.
They take grit. Sweat. A little fear.
Sometimes you get scrapes, things get scary, and you wonder if it is worth it.
But it is.
The beautiful places are waiting, just past the hard parts, with space to breathe again.
And every difficult step, whether it’s 197 or 1,097, each step is part of the journey. Each step is what makes the rewards that much better when you reach the destination.
“Some of the most beautiful places can’t be reached easily. But they are waiting… just past the hard parts.” – Patti Jewel
Next: The Climb Back Up
Just Keep Walking. Step with Love. Always forward.
