The Hurdle

(Josie Sayz: I’ve been thinking about this for a while. During my lunch-break I managed to scribble it all down. This is for anyone who has ever felt that something is stopping them from achieving what they want.)

Have you ever felt as though something is in the way of you and the finish line? It’s too big to climb over. Too wide to walk around. Too heavy to budge. Yet you know that the finish line is less than two steps away, beyond the hurdle. Everything that you have worked so hard for has led you up to this moment. Now all that’s left is this one final hurdle. But you can’t do it. You can’t get around it and cross the too-often-dreamt-about finishing line. You stop. You stare. There is an alternative. What if you assist the hurdle in crossing the finish line? Doing so, however, means that you will have to take its place. Stand there forever, just two paces back from everything you ever wanted. Two paces from the finishing line. All you can do is stand back and watch as the hurdle lives out your dream. Is it worth it though? You’ve travelled so far and worked so hard to get to this very point. More than anything else you want to cross the finish line. You need to cross the finish line. You’re ready to cross the finish line. But what about the hurdle? How long has it been sat there; stuck between the path and the exit? Does the hurdle not deserve a chance at life on the other side? But you’ve worked so hard. It’s what you came here to do. Along the journey you have learnt many new things, discovered new experiences, realised new emotions and new dreams that you never before thought were possible. And now you’re there. Two steps away from making all of those dreams, ambitions and desires come true. You want to be on the other side. You need to be on the other side. You yearn to be there. But the hurdle. You close your eyes. Take a step back. Breathe. Looking up, you hold out a hand. The hurdle thanks you. You are the only one to have offered it help. To have given it hope. It offers you a chance to pass. A chance to get to the finish line. You bow your head and decline. It’s the hurdle’s time. You help it over the line and wave it goodbye. You take its place. Standing there, two steps away from the finish line. The thing that you worked so hard for is right in front of your nose. Forever staring at you. Mocking you. Your chance has passed. You will never reach it. You will never again get that chance. There’s nothing left for you to do now, but stand and watch. You smile. You know deep down inside you did the right thing.

- Josie -