“It does not matter how slowly you go, as long as you do not stop.” —Confucius

Left foot forward. Right foot forward. Ding! The clock's shorter hand is now pointing to the terrapin's 2,184th hour of momentous journey on a pathwalk of mesmerizing once in a lifetime opportunities. Despite the unbearable carapace that hinders her from moving swiftly as a bunny in the middle of an intense marathon, she didn't let it stop her from transcending over various limitations.

Once upon a time, your folk lone stranger was like a demure little terrapin who was stuck between her carapace and plastron.

A carapace of both piled up simple and complex academic challenges and a plastron of sealed belief that she's only a mere student who keeps on relying her needs and wants to her striving parents. That shell was totally closed and hooked up by her warm embrace and burning desire to proudly shout at the end of the battle these four words: "Finally, I made it!"

Online classes, household chores. It should supposedly be the basic daily routine until a close dear pal @MoonTrader lit up an interesting light somewhere outside the shell zone. She stuck her neck out of it and saw a pathwalk of mesmerizing once in a lifetime opportunities where tons of wonderful terrapins like her, who were also carrying diverse carapace, were enthusiastically moving both their foot forward. It was amazing!

However, the vastness looked like complicated for her to digest and engage with, that at least a single word didn't show up even though she was introduced already to the community. Multi-tasking wasn't her thing, and so, was only amazed. Her mind was totally fixed on the heaviness of that weighty carapace, thus, she drew her head straight back into the shell.

Yet, have you ever felt your heart wherein it was being pulled by something you've tried to run away from? It took her months to realize how she needed a saunter in that pathwalk. She ignored the previous abandoned account and made this official one 'lonestranger' As suggested, she published a 600 word article tackling about herself entitled Get To Know Me. And you know what? It was relatively from rags to riches. She was like an invisible breeze to Rusty within four consecutive days giving her a feeling of hopelessness, which was gradually fading because of multiple warm greetings on the comment section. Her heart was overflowing with joy and gratitude (char catriona yarn) building up again the sense of confidence.

Voila! She got her $0.23 on its 5th day for the first time. That motivated her more to move both her foot forward one at a time until it became a dollar or two and the largest so far is nearly six. It was really a slow walk huh? It kind of lessened her carapace in terms of financial problems yet, the academics weighed heavier than ever which made the walk slower. And so, she kept on breaking off.

7, 862, 400 seconds, 131, 040 minutes, 2, 184 hours, and counting. The best thing that ever happened was how community engagement guided her to grew up like a flower seed developing a root system, anchored onto the ground and had root hairs to absorb the extraordinary strength she needed. No man is an island indeed no matter where we are in this world digitally or not. Time will really come for a certain person to step out form his or her comfort zone.

This platform is that pathwalk filled with diverse wonderful writers who showed her the other side of reality through their remarkable articles that are always sealed with crucial and heartwarming contents which she wasn't able to grasp outside that bright screen you're looking at. Read.cash is the only platform she had where an another sense of pure belongingness was found through interacting with them all. Different beautiful life experiences were unveiled that left a special place in her heart and soul. Articles that hit different, is my kind of a quality content.

Left foot forward, right foot forward. Let them move forward one step at a time and do not ever stop in achieving the goal despite the carapace at your back. This is what I've also learned from my past months of experience here in this platform which I've been trying to apply at the moment. And guess what? Even though Rusty has been so distant, my recent articles have somehow achieved a dollar and I hope, these have hit you something as well. Remember, move both your foot forward, one step at a time.

Thanks. Owe you big time! ♡

Lead Image: Source

Ps. The animated turtle used above isn't mine. Also, this is my entry for Ate @Jane 's writing challenge. If you love to join, kindly check out her article and just simply follow the mechanics.

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