Day in and day out, we struggle with whatever tedious challenges that stand before us.   We often tell ourselves that life isn’t worth the paycheck we earn to feed and shelter ourselves.  Amongst the oft painful story of daily routine, we lose ourselves in a sea of darkness.  We succumb to our insecurities and inadequacies and tell ourselves that life will never get better.

Yet, every so often, we’re met with moments that change everything.  Moments that reach out to those buried emotions and help you realize that life is more than just money, possessions and jobs.  Moments that make you fall in love with life all over again.  When these moments are shared, they’re all the more powerful and captivating.

I was in a dark place.  Swimming blindly in a sea of self-pity and hurt.   To carry on was to be levied with ball and chain. 

Suddenly, there you were, before me like a blessed angel emerging from the unknown.  When the words in my mind wouldn’t reach my lips, I thought that I was under a spell.  You were beautiful.  More beautiful then I could’ve ever hoped.  You smiled and something inside of me awakened.  It was a smile that I could only dream of before this day.  You didn’t know it, but that’s all you had to do.  You saved me.  You’ll never know it, but you did.  All the hopelessness, callousness and sorrow flipped.  Suddenly I was alive.  Something was telling me that there was a reason to move on, a reason to fight.  The future was holding the most precious of miracles and no amount of demonic torture would keep me from seeing that smile again.

That glorious smile continued and I felt as if I was the only one that could make her smile that way.  She’ll never know it, but that smile was everything.  A light in the dark.  A distinct path to a glorious future. 

I’m holding on to that memory now.  A simple smile that sparked an everlasting light.  A kind gesture that, to her, was nothing but a normal reaction.  To me, it was the creation of a whole new world. 

If beauty like this exists, then I have to see what tomorrow holds. 

In an instant, my mind was made up.  I would do anything to see that smile one more time.  Though she may never be mine, I would battle armies, battle monsters in the ocean and stand up to the devil himself just to see her smile because of me.

Maybe one day I’ll have the opportunity to tell her this, but for now I’m just taking it one day at a time.  Hoping quietly that fate brings us together.

I invite you all to find that light, that spark that keeps you ticking.  When life seems to be tipping against you, rediscover it and fall in love all over again