take these broken wings

Everyone knows that hard work gets you places in life. However, "hard work" is an ill-defined term for some of us. We dream up goals and expect a little sweat to turn into what we've been hoping for. We don't realize what hard work truly is.

You see, what no one talks about are the twists and turns and ups and downs that will make your path scary. Rarely do people discuss the uncertainty of abandoning a safe path to go down the road that could possibly lead to your dreams. No one mentions that you will almost certainly want to give up at some point, if even for just a split-second.

But hard work is the blood, sweat, and tears that eliminate giving up from your list of options. It is the overwhelming passion that you harbor for your dreams. It is the complete and utter devotion to your cause, no matter how tough things get.

Hard work is learning from your mistakes and bouncing back with ten times the determination you started with. Hard work is pushing past your weaknesses, all in the name of your heart's desire. Of course, rebounding from a down can take any amount of time: an hour, a week, maybe more. But what's important is that you don't lose all hope for your cause, whatever that may be.

All too many people go through life with regrets about all the things they gave up on or never got around to doing. The people who dare to challenge themselves and follow their passions not only reach their dreams, but they don't have to wonder about how life could have been, because they are living it.

So don't be afraid to make mistakes, and don't be scared of what could happen, because if you work hard and push yourself to come back from the tough times, you will be rewarded with your dreams. You can reach your goals if you just  realize that the path is never straight or clear, and that you will have to take chances and things will be uncertain. And it will be scary, but in the end, isn't a little adrenaline worth it?