Hold fast to your oars, hoist the sails to the wind, read the pictures in the stars, look beyond the horizon to that which you can’t see but dimly sense in your future: the curving inlet, the sandy beach. Know that even those calm waters may harbor boulders, craggy rocks intent on rending the bottom of your boat; that when you land, you may find your legs too weak to walk well, still shaky from the sea, and that the soil may have its own perils. But know that this is life. And also know that the fruit on the trees is sweet, and warm to the mouth, as is life as well. Persist. Be patient. Be well.
Jesmyn Ward, Navigate Your Stars
