I’ve had this image in my mind as a metaphor for life for a couple of decades now, and it recently shifted.

As human beings we all hang off the side of this cliff we call life. As we climb the cliff, we sometimes stop in caves to rest. Sometimes we stay in the caves too long. These caves are things that give us relief but don’t help us grow. Sometimes we stay in the caves forever and the caves keep us from living our lives. These caves are things like alcohol, drugs, food, porn, slot machines, video games, etc. We stay in these caves because the climb is hard. Life is hard. But we must keep climbing.

Recently, the image shifted, or rather my perception shifted.  I realized I could push myself up and stand on the cliff face. I am no longer climbing, I am walking. The cliff has become a horizon.

Ars long vita brevis.