I still remember the first CD I ever bought. Everyone knows this album as the "Black Album", but in reality this is Metallica's self-titled album. In this album there's a song titled "Nothing Else Matters".

The second verse of the song goes like this:

Never opened myself this way
Life is ours, we live it our way
All these words I don't just say
And nothing else matters

This is a "love song" the lead singer of the band, James Hetfield, wrote to a now former girlfriend. He admittedly cannot remember why. As with every song, it is up to you how you interpret the message of the song. I've always found the first two lines on this verse interesting and to a great extent, I have lived my life based on it.

It's rare when I open up to someone and let them in. Most people will certainly agree with me on this. There has been few people that has seen me open and vulnerable. Those are the people that can understand what that line really means to me.

The second line of the verse can be related to the way I've lived most of my adult life. It's my life, I live it however I please to do so. This doesn't mean that I live a reckless life. It simply means that do not live my life based on whatever people say or think of me.

If someone likes me, then good. If someone doesn't like me, then good too. You want to call me an A-Hole, then stand on line; I'm sure someone from the club will come by and welcome you.

As far as the third and fourth lines; I usually only open my mouth when I have something to say that makes sense and it's coherent. The last line pretty much sums it up and brings it back to a full circle: Nothing else matters...

A few months ago I hit a bump in the road and I fell into a hole. This was no random hole, someone went out of their way to dig it for me. I had been watching out for it because I had a feeling that it was there, but I failed to see it. I slowly went deeper and deeper into this hole and I kept wondering how for it would go. I was hoping that I would be able to get out of it before it was too late and I wouldn't be able to get out of it. Desperation settled in...

I eventually found that it did have a bottom and that I had reached it. Here I am sitting at the bottom, trying to figure out how I will get up and fight my way out. I got up, dusted myself off and waited for my eyes to get used to the dark. Eventually I was able to see where I was and that's when I looked up. Anticipation settled in...

These people went out of their way to dig a hole and blindly lead me to it. They walked away and completely forgot about me. However; they made an error. They forgot to close the hole. What I saw when I looked up was light and an open sky. There's hope and there's a way out. All I have to figure out now is how to get back up there.

I'm in a dark place now, but I know there's people out there waiting for me. I know she's wondering when I will be out, but I know I will find a way. I just hope that it's not too late. Some days the light dims, but the next day it shines again. I'm just waiting until the day I'm on my own two feet again, walking on my path. I will surely be more careful where I step.

I have a feeling that the light will be brighter than ever tomorrow and that someone else's path will cross mine. Maybe this person will help me out.