The sun beat down on me, hot and insistent.
A bird flew overhead, casting a small, bird-shaped shadow on the ground as it passed by.
I slowed my pace for a moment.
Turned and looked behind me.
My own shadow followed closely, stretching long and tall against the road beneath my feet.
As if it were chasing me.
Always just a few steps away. But never actually able to catch up.
Shadows are so interesting to me.
They reflect our shape, but distort it in the strangest places.
Stretching our legs for what seems like miles if the sun is at just the right angle.
Disappearing when a cloud passes over.
Bending as we go around a corner, or shrinking to fit in tiny places.
They capture our essence.
Bits and pieces of who we are, and who we used to be.
Some are tall and elegant.
Others are short, misshapen, even a little scary.
They are easiest to see when life is bright.
But shadows are there on the dark days too.
They hide under the tables, behind the curtains, in the corners of our lives.
Just waiting for the sun to come out and expose them.
It's oddly comforting to know that our shadows are always there.
Even if we can't see them.
With every passing year, they gain more substance.
New experiences add depth to the images cast on the ground behind us.
The beautiful and the brutal, all intertwined.
Next time you're out in the sunshine, take a minute to admire your shadow.
Walk a few steps and see how it shifts as you move.
Dance and watch it dance with you.
It's a part of who you are.
Always there.
A silent partner on this journey through life.
And a perfect traveling companion. Quiet, loyal, and reliable.
What's not to love?
Enjoy the sunshine today, friends.
And the shadow it casts behind you!
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