{The following piece is dedicated to one of my oldest and dearest friends. She is my sister, my comrade, my friend. She inspired this...and so it is to her I send my heart ~} There are Humans who have an innate ability to overcome the most horrific of challenges. They are the kind of Humans who others call Heroes. They are those admirable, courageous, incredibly resilient folks who just won't take no for an answer. They refuse to be intimidated by monsters under the bed. Or physical challenges. Or medical diagnoses. They are tenacious, stubborn, big-hearted warriors. They are rare and beautiful Beings who sometimes need our help...but often will not ask simply because they are unfamiliar with the need to (ask for help). It is these Humans to whom I offer today's Joy-full meanderings. You may have spent your life doing good for those you love simply because you could. You may have volunteered to fight fires, patrol neighborhoods, feed the poor, help the elderly, run marathons for charities. You probably never had more than a few moments of doubt in your Self. You have been strength personified. A beacon of light for many lost souls who crossed your path. In all likelihood, you have been self-sustaining and independent throughout your life. Yours has always been the Warrior's Way. And then.... Something happens. Something so huge that it knocks you off your horse and leaves you lying in the dirt, out of breath and utterly confused. Your life's experiences did not prepare you for this. You never even considered a siege such as this. Totally out of your realm. A monumental Surprise Attack. As you lie there, wondering what mighty force brought you to your knees, your mind races through the years of weaponry you've accumulated. You try to focus on all those experiences that brought you to victory. You do your best to keep your calm and forgo the panic that hovers just on the edge of your consciousness. You fight with your own fears, even though you've never once voiced them to anyone. You are, for the first time in your life, terrified. It is in this moment of realization that you come to clarity. You see it all through your Warrior's eyes. There is no clouding in your judgment. The terror begins to wane. The calm begins to return. Your breathing begins to regulate. Your heart beats steadily. Your Warrior returns. Now is the moment when you see that this battle is merely one more in a lifetime of battles. You realize that there is nothing that can stop you now. Not even the direst of circumstances. Your trusty steed stands waiting. Your hand reaches for the reins, knowing that it is your right to continue on. You have all the tools you need to conquer this enemy. And as these thoughts flood your mind, you can feel the rush of blood coursing through you, urging you to remount and get on with it. This is the Way of the Warrior. There is no other option. You must because you are. And that, my friend, is why you are here. Trust your Warrior. She will not desert you. Trust her strength and her courage and her absolute tenacity. All-ways.