How many times had I crossed that bridge?
Very few, upon recollection.
I remember walking past it every day as a boy. As a young man.
But I always had to get to wherever I was going. It was so important to get to where I needed to go. I never took the detour over the bridge.
Yes, I know that people said that it would be so much more scenic and enjoyable. To be able to see the creek from that vantage point.
But I just didn't care. I was so focused.
So, I kept walking past. Sometimes running. Usually running.
I knew there was something in those woods and I was just the man to find it.
Day after day, I passed that bridge and scoured the woods.
Not one log did I not look behind. Not one rock unturned. I climbed trees. I dug holes. And when I finished climbing those trees I would take an ax to them. Determined to find what might be inside.
Eventually, I had chopped the forest down. It was a sad sight. Stumps everywhere. Rotted out logs. I had trampled all the foliage. Now, just matted-down, brown blankets of nothingness.
So, today I stopped.
I looked over the bridge. To the other side.
Was there a forest? No. In fact, quite the opposite.
Just a lone tree which had been there for ages. I thought for sure that the strong gusts of wind that bombarded this valley would have plucked this tree out of the ground all the way to it's roots, having no protection -- But, no.
This tree continued to grow. It grew tall and strong. And, unlike the trees from the fallen forest, this tree had blossoms. Blossoms of the fairest colors that smelled of flowers not yet imagined. I had never smelled anything like it in my life.
So, today I stopped.
I looked ahead of me. Ahead of me, my failed attempts. Lying there.
I looked across the bridge. At the tree.
How many times had a looked over that bridge to the other side?
How many times had I crossed that bridge?
Never once, upon recollection.
The blossoms were open. I could smell them from here. I could feel the aroma fill my lungs. I exhaled a breath and felt... alive.
I looked down. My bare feet in the dirt. I wiggled my toes.
Then turned.
The bridge ahead of me. And I took a step forward.
I could hear the stream beneath me.
I could feel it flow around me.
I could feel the stream inside of me.
And, for the first time in my life -- I felt content.
