Through the Labyrinth
This month, I was fortunate enough to be one of a team of trainers that took 40 youth on 11 days of discovery, growth and learning. As part of this experience, we were invited to enter the Labyrinth, a 9 step journey of self reflection on our past, present and future. This was a deeply emotional, personal journey that we did in complete silence, very much on our own. However, one lesson I walked away with is that despite us living our lives somewhat on our own, we are always surrounded by others. I (and I believe many others in that room), drew strength on our way from the fact that we were not alone in that room. For me, it was a reminder that we are not alone in life. At the end we were invited to write a letter to ourselves, and one to the group. I ended up writing the following poem.

The Labyrinth
A space filled with new faces, new friends.
We walk our own journey in this space,
We face our fears, our hopes, our dreams.
So close yet so far,
Together yet alone
Connected through the path our feet, our souls, follow.I sit in reflection,
echoes of tears, heaving breaths, a reminder of those with me.
A reminder of shared pain, learning, release,
Of bravery, vulnerability, change, and growth.We sit, our wounds hidden in plain sight.
I find strength in the faces of those here.
In silence I sit in my world,
yet I reach across the divide,
reach to support, to surround in love.We have met so recently, yet shared so much.
Each soul, an inspiration
Each moment, a new light in my life.I will continue on this journey,
Out of this room, this labyrinth, and into my life
Nourished by this time alone, together;
Nourished by your story, your souls, your hearts.
One I may stand, but surrounded, supported forever by many.
