The road lies ahead

The road lies ahead,
Forked and twisted,
Undulating and unpaved,
Seeming so wasted.

Yet a step I took,
And then another,
Slowly I walked,
Nevermind the bother.
Difficult it is,
Yet challenges nourish,
Heart, mind and soul,
Eventually will flourish.

In time I shall look back,
And see for myself,
What I left behind,
Is now my wealth.
Not in terms of cash,
Nor in terms of land,
'Tis in terms of time,
What I could withstand.
Pains I had shouldered,
Storms I had weathered,
Ideals shattered,
Experiences gathered.

How better to grow,
Than to walk this path,
A road that is rough,
A life that is tough.

Probably written in 1999, which is 10 years ago!