The Saddest Word

I read something today, it said that almost was the saddest word in the world.

Almost there. Almost won. Almost succeeded. Almost lived.

ALMOST, but not quite.

It's rather odd how one small word can hold so very much pain, so much disappointment. Just two syllables.

Almost is the sound of dashed hopes, of sad quiet failures.

(almost, nearly, just about, but not)

Truly, this is so very accurate. And just days ago I would have agreed.

But I don't.

And I won't, because there are two sides to the meaning of almost, just as there are two sides to every story. The thing to emphasize about almost, is that even though it is falling short of something, at least there was an attempt.

Almost there, just a little bit farther.

Almost won, just train harder.

Almost lived, fought damn hard.

Almost alone, but not completely. Never completely.

Almost means that no matter how far you fall, you haven't hit rock bottom yet. That even though you didn't succeed you didn't fail either.

I have realized that almost is not so scary. There are things much worse than shooting for the moon and missing, because then at least you land among the stars.