FORGE AHEAD! by Dr. Rhoberta Shaler

Sometimes when the going seems difficult, it is because we areclosest to reaching our destination. Those last few yards can betough and, often, this is when most folks quit.

It seems to me to be like walking in a beautiful meadow andseeing a forest ahead with a beautiful mountain behind. The suncatches the surface of a lake up on the mountainside and it callsto you. You want to sit by that lake and enjoy the spectacularscenery. The only way to the lake is through the forest and soyou set off. Soon you are deep in the forest. You cannot see thelake, cannot see the mountain. All you can see is theever-deepening, ever-darkening forest. As the memory of the lakedims, the fear of the dark looms. You begin to falter.

You say to yourself, "What am I doing? Should I go back? I knowthe way back. That is likely the best thing to do. At least, Itried. Any sane person would turn back. What was I thinking?" Doyou listen to these words of fear, or do you balance them withwords of inspiration? "I know what I want. I know that there is abeautiful lake and I want to be there. Perhaps I will be the onlyperson ever to sit by that lake. Surely it is only a littlefurther. I am strong. I can do this."

There is something about forests in the middle of meadows. Thecloser you get to the center of the forest, the darker itbecomes. And then---it begins to get lighter and lighter as youwalk out the other side. Often achieving goals is like walkingthrough that clump of trees, that forest. The most difficultpart, the darkest" part is just before it begins to get easier.Of course, this is a judgment you have to make. You are the onlyone with all the facts. Think about it carefully, though.Sometimes we miss the spectacular views in life because all wecan see is the forest in front of us. We lose sight of themountains and lakes beyond.

Courage, as Alice M. Swain said so beautifully, is not thetowering oak that sees storms come and go; it is the fragileblossom that opens in the snow. Do not be afraid to open...and blossom.

For today, think about times you have turned back and times youhave forged ahead. Think about the reasons you took those paths.Reflect on the outcomes and look for inspiration to continue topursue your goals.

To Your Success,
UniqueGuidance Team