I never understood the phrase
“riding off into the sunset…”
because every time I drive into the sunset
I can’t see where I am going.
When I am blinded with abundant brightness,
mesmerized by endless colors swirling
in and out of each other,
I lose sight of the road lain directly in front of my eyes,
and eventually,
I swerve and shift into so many directions
that I’m left with two choices:
to crash and burn
or to stop dead in my tracks.
Beauty is just a distraction.
I prefer to ride off into the opposite direction,
where I can glance into my rearview mirror
if I need a little inspiration,
but I can direct my own light into the darkness
to illuminate the course before me.
I think those who are the most strong-willed,
the most independent,
and the most emotionally self-sufficient
are the ones who reach their destinations
with the greatest integrity.
The path isn’t easy
or pretty,
but the journey's end is definitely
worthwhile.