I am and am not who I was.

Pushed out from the safety of my original cave,

I entered the world unaware, with little knowledge;

facing the myriad highways, streets, roads, pathways, trails,

and trackless wild places that confront all living creatures.

Traveling along what became the map of my life

many choices were made, some by me and some by others.

Some were voluntary and some were thrust on me by circumstance.

All brought awareness. Some brought wisdom and some brought pain.

And now I am who I am - a work in progress still becoming whoever I may be.

Still creating the map of my life.

Allan Hurwit is a part-time instructor at Santa Monica College and a staff-writer and photographer for VOICES magazine.