Life is a DO IT FOR YOURSELF, (DIFY), road trip (s). We must choose our own adventures and journeys.
Making a decision at a juncture in life reminds me of Robert Frost’s poem, The Road Not Taken, a poem about making choices.
In the poem, the traveler took the road less traveled. But it wasn’t an easy decision. The traveler stood, looked, and eye-balled both paths as best he could. One path appeared to be less traveled than the other one.
I guess you could say Frost’s traveler used his “gut positioning system, (GPS)” and selected the less frequented path.
Sometimes we have to make a gut decision. Gut decisions are usually instinctive. Other times we rely on intellect and evaluate the pros and cons. Sometimes it’s a toss-up. But when we make the choice, it’s not unusual to wonder about the road not chosen. And the thought that an alternative or another path may have been better is never laid to rest.
Life is a road trip.
There is more than one road we could take from where we are to where we want to go. Regardless of the road we choose, the goal is to arrive at our destination, our personal goals or dreams.
Some people travel the beaten, commonly-used roads and pathways to their destinations. Others use the lesser-traveled roads. If you don’t know exactly which route is best, that’s OK. You’re not alone. We’ve all had to make tough decisions, and we had to use our best judgment.
But sooner or later, we wonder about the untraveled road—what if we had done this or that.
Both the gung-ho and the not-so-sure travelers must choose a path in life. Of course, you can travel only one road at a time. But it’s good to realize that another avenue or roadway still exists.
The road trip in life has many signposts, which includes U-turns. It’s never too late to begin a new adventure in a different direction.
But regardless of the path taken, should life be more about the journey or the destination?
Some travelers hate time restraints. They love unplanned stops. They’re all about the experience. The goal is in view, but there’s no emergency to arrive.
Other traveling dreamers can’t function without a schedule. And if they’re behind on their goals of getting there, they’re dissatisfied and restless.
When I was younger, I was all about the destination. I took classes every summer break to graduate early from college. Getting there was all the rage.
Do you focus more on the journey or the arrival?
Destinations can be delayed, but the journey doesn’t stop.
The when-will-I-get-there travelers prefer moving in a non-stop straight line. And they don’t like delays.
But what do you do when you come to a fork in the road? The fork is symbolic of your chance to take another path, the one not laid to rest. Sometimes we need to give ourselves permission to turn around and take the other road, the one not taken.
Who says we can’t? We need to give power to “can.”
The choice between the current path or something new is your choice to make. Having an alternative can be a good thing. But whether the fork is convenient or not, the decision is yours. And the change or new course can be life-changing. But again, making that decision: left or right, up or down, isn’t an easy one.
There’s no looking glass or crystal ball to determine that the newly chosen road will be much better than the previous one. And using the best Global Positioning System (GPS) won’t make the decision any easier.
The question is how to make life-changing decisions with confidence. And we all struggle with making such choices.
A decision to start a different or new career or profession is a life-changing decision. Some people are happy with the road they’ve chosen. But others enjoy being adventurous and pursuing different routes to achieve goals and ambitions.
I ended a 30-year career early to pursue something different. I wanted to travel the road not taken. My new path is a hobby that involves writing, blogging, and speaking. Other adventures may also be viable. Who knows?
For me, the scenic route is good. And I love having time to pick and smell the roses along the way.
At this particular time in your life, which of the following quotes best suits your mindset for your current and future road trips:
“A good traveler has no fixed plans, and is not intent on arriving.” Laozi
“Life is a journey, not a destination. Happiness is not “there” but here, not “tomorrow” but today.” Sidney Greenberg
For me, Greenberg’s quote is very inspiring and challenging. At this stage in my life, I’m all about the journey.
Here’s wishing you great road trips in life.