We are surrounded by the notion that the only way out is in front of us. That we should never look back because that’s not the direction we’re ever headed in.

Nobody mentions how important it is, as we get older, to retrace our steps back onto familiar ground, even if it’s painful.

Somewhere you can run your hands over the trees and every strip of bark feels like home. Surround yourself with what you recognize so that the next time you set out, you can fully reflect on and appreciate the experiences that have shaped you. The pieces of yourself you have decided to leave behind, and every beautiful thing that has sprouted up in their place.