Inspired by a friend’s blog post. It’s been a very wonderful experience reading her journey of recovery and walking toward fulfilling her bliss over the years. The tips and insights she has shared have been quite remarkable. If you’re interested, you can read her latest post that inspired the poem below, and from there read her other well-written work. It is found here: https://beautybeyondbones.com/2023/10/16/3-things-ive-banished-from-my-life-since-recovering-from-anorexia/

Every Next Step
by Michael Doyle

Every next step has brought new discovery
Walking into the good life of post-recovery
Though things happen that bring their shock
Once that's past, it's time for the new walk

Onward and upward, she has earned her respect
She strives for the good that others neglect
She shares her walk with those who wisely read
And find fulfillment in words that they need

In learning to love herself, she has found love
Protected as it seems by the very angels above
It is a pleasure to know of her Godly gratitude
In all that she does, she expresses this attitude

She shares that she must be mindful of her past
To ensure that the new things learned will last
That is the wisdom that can only come from experience
Though none would experience it if it were our preference

Clean slates are needed when running from familiarity
Many can relate to that from their life's similarity 
I suppose that the same is sometimes true for me
Though I hang on to my past that taught me humility

In her last post, she shared three helpful things
That have added to her life that each new day brings
As I read these, I contrast these with my own ways
And try to see how these might apply for my own days

Truth is told in that numbers cannot truly ever measure
The dignity of a life and all those things we treasure
Numbers serve a purpose but too often become a tyranny
Freeing our self from this can give us needed liberty

This freedom is added to when avoiding wrong comforts
The sorts of things we found safe but now must confront
That is, if, we are ever to truly leave that past behind
We must keep health and wellness, not sickness, in mind

She reminds me of the unhealthy habits that bring death
Enough so that it causes me to pause, and catch my breath
All of these vices are best left behind in a needed burn
Of all bridges. There is only to live by what we have learned

Put simply, it is best that eyes are kept on the future
Learning better ways and habits that we come to nurture
As each next step brings to us the best sort of discovery
And we continue to walk into our best lives of post-recovery

I want to applaud as I read of her walk in right intention
Focusing on Jesus and living life with focused attention
Empty hearts filled with purity and good are an inspiration
My proverbial hat is off to her in open admiration

Quietly, even silently, I join her in her written prayer
That others learn to avoid the worst of deception's snare
And that they learn to live in the blessings of victory
Knowing that we have the power to live in true liberty

(c) October 18, 2023   Michael Doyle
All Rights Reserved