A friend recently wrote in her journal: True forgiveness is the willingness to say “Thank you for giving me that experience.”

I believe that. I don’t regret the bad experiences. I wish they didn’t happen. In some way, I believe I become a better person because of them. Some may believe that I had a bad year because of the “bad luck” I encountered.

But no, not at all. Silver linings. I am still alive and there’s so much to conquer. Endless possibilities. Like every day, today is the beginning of the next beginning. I did lose at some fights, returning scarred and battered. But with a touch of belief, I am back again. It’s only the horizon that stops me. But oh wait one can never reach the horizon. Limitless.

I saw someone I recognized from then crossing 24th street Saturday afternoon. I was trotting along in my new shoes, trying to break them in. When I first saw him, I almost choked. But even with that behind me, I still greeted him with an enthusiastic smile. We exchanged awkward small talk and parted ways. Never the end, never the end.