Milestones & Markers: Discover Your Life
In ancient Rome, individuals would place stones by the side of the roads they traveled. Traditionally, these stones were set a mile apart. These stones lead the way to distant villages and towns. Miles apart referenced by the stones along the road. These milestones were signs of a traveler’s journey and their progress along the road. Over time, the meaning of the word milestone changed. Instead of marking miles along the traveled road, these milestones, or markers, have come to represent a significant point in a journey, a development, or a life transition.
We might say a milestone in a person’s life is when they reach 40, or when they celebrate their golden wedding anniversary. Other milestones in our lives might be the birth of a child, the buying of a first home, graduating high school or college, or hearing your baby’s first words. Historically there have been many milestones in the world. For example, the invention of electricity or Apollo 11 and the landing of a man on the Moon. Breakthrough developments in science are easily considered milestones for research and medicine. Milestones in history, war, and politics grace our landscape yesterday, today, and in the years to come.
Think about your own life
What have been your markers and milestones? Milestones can represent a new chapter in a person’s life. It can represent new beginnings, overcoming challenges, and achieving success. For others, milestones can also represent a difficult journey or one that has been burdened with uncertainty. Milestones will appear during the good and bad times of our lives.
Milestones are unique to each of us. It might be a personal goal one has set for themselves. Perhaps a new adventure that has long been anticipated. Each of us has a distinctive perspective on our own journey in this life. The life we live is our own. We are not responsible for how others receive us. We are, however, responsible for living a life that is genuine. One that is authentic. We must always be true to who we are as we travel the road and recognize the markers along the path. Our journey will be filled with years of growth and change.
It is during these milestones of change that we can allow experiences to teach us wisdom. Providing clearer vision as our journey continues. What will be your milestone markers in the days, months, and years ahead?
