Recognition

If you walked past the boy who started on your journey, would he recognize you? Would your younger self see you?

Would he recognize you with the deeper wrinkles, the white hair?
Would he recognize you behind that dad belly, the old man’s glasses?
Would he recognize you in your silence and exhaustion?

Would he?

But would he also see your hard-won experience and, hopefully, wisdom?
Would he also see—and be in awe of—your resilience and strength to go on?
Would he also get excited for his journey from the war stories you can share?

Would he?

If your younger self saw you as you are right now, would he see you?