This time last year.

I am very aware that the title of this post sounds like the beginning of a facebook memories timeline. I'd like you to know that this is actually a thank you note.

I was deep in the woods of the human experience this time last year. Freshly graduated, stepping out on my own, recovering from loss, theft, and facing my own fears. Metaphorically speaking, I didn't have the tools to be in these woods. I didn't have matches, or shelter, or a map. I didn't have the shoes or the smarts. As far as I could tell I was alone, suffering with every step in the cold January days, solemnly reflecting on my lack of progress every night.

In fact, I wrote a whole post about how I was losing it, 'it' being myself. I knew I was going to be fine in the end, I simply didn't know what the end looked like. I didn't beleive in it. It seemed impractical to think the woods would ever end.

Still, I made my way. I began to collect what I needed. I found shelter, I created a map of where I'd been. I started to wake up and greet each morning with enough passion to beat back the cold and I would mark my progress each night with pride, fire burning in my heart.

What I was too blind to notice (or maybe I knew but didn't acknowledge enough) was that it wasn't just me in those woods. There were people who loved me in there, too. Sometimes in the shadows, sometimes right in the light of the fires they helped me build each night. Sometimes from miles away, sending me prayers and well wishes, and sometimes right in front of me, wiping the tears from my eyes and holding my hand, leading me when I didn't trust the path before me.

As the winter melted to spring, then summer, I found me again. And when I wiped the last of my own ego from my eyes, I could finally look around and appreciate the people who brought me back to myself.

Your kindness and your light saved me. I'm beyond blessed to be surrounded by people who believe me. You all have given me love that is deep and rich, kindness that is unconditional and ever present, and patience beyond any that I'd ever even believed I deserved but somehow received anyway.

I am now sitting firmly in the present. I am confident, I am content, I am here, a place I never thought I'd get to, and it is all thanks to the people in my life who lifted my spirits when they were down and carried me when I was weak. This is the end of the woods.

Now the only place to go is higher. Here's to the next level: Climbing mountains.

Metaphorically, of course (but maybe also literally).