Here's the thing - there is an enemy. I couldn't care less what flavor of reality you subscribe to. The fact is, there's an enemy.

You might think your fight is with me, or someone else, or yourself. It's not. It's with the enemy. We, ALL OF US, even the people you don't like, we're in this together. This doesn't absolve you or me of acceptance of consequence. But it DOES keep me from letting you hurt me, and hopefully from me hurting you.

I don't feel sorry for you, any more than I feel sorry for myself. And I'm done feeling sorry for myself.

You can stay here, in the mud and filth and pain. Everyone needs to catch their breath. I'd like to think the people I've found myself surrounded by aren't the kind to wallow in it. I know I'm covered in it from head to to. But I'm not making camp here. I'm gathering up my gear and my weapons of choice, and I'm heading up the mountain.

The enemy is up there, somewhere. You can stay here in the shit. You can head back down the mountain, where it's safe. Me, my fear and my uncertainty, we're making our ascent.

BTW, if you think this is about YOU, it probably isn't.