Once Upon a Time...

Once upon a time, there was a Little girl who lived in a fabled village by a cold, northern, sandy shore. Every day, the girl would travel far north of her own village to earn money to live. She would cart her wares and wits with her each day, and she would pour her goods and ideas and knowledge into the minds of others, hoping to fill them and make a difference in their lives.

After years of long treks and harsh conditions, the girl became weary and, although she had friends and family she loved, she began to grow unhappy. She longed for a change from her routines; she longed for new shores and hungrier minds and warmer climes. She parted tearfully from all her loved ones and set off with two small bags in search of a new life.

Her journey brought her to a new and sparkling kingdom of saints. Her awe was great upon her arrival, but in time, she grew to become more accustomed to her new lifestyle. She played, childlike, in the warm waters; she was mesmerized by night stars she had never seen before; she squealed at the hot sand between her toes. Her joy, upon waking each morn, never diminished.

The Little girl often longed to see those who had once been close to her, but she was able to keep in contact with them through the kingdom's messenger. She knew they were happy for her and that they kept her in their hearts, as she kept them near her own.

She understood that this change was key to her own happiness. The days stretched out before her. Backlit by the sun's soothing rays, she smiled at her own shadow. She knew she would have stories to tell.