photo credit: PhotoGraham
“If we are facing in the right direction, all we have to do is keep on walking.” — Ancient Buddhist proverb
Two days ago I was riding my bike on the bike path near our house. The bike path travels through a mostly rural and wooded area. As I was riding, I saw a turkey standing on the path ahead of me. The turkey was on the opposite side of the path, and I assumed he would run into the field. Well, he must not have saw me until I was almost right beside him. And, instead of running into the field nearest him (and away from me), he chose to run back across the path right in front of me. This was the side from which he had approached the path just earlier. I just missed hitting him by less than a foot!
So, why do I bring this up? It got me thinking … how many times do we continue to go down the path (or road) we know because that’s what we’re “comfortable” with? And how many times could we try new roads in our life, and see where they take us? It’s easy to get caught up in doing what we’ve always done. There is a comfort level in knowing what to expect. But is that road taking you in the direction you want your life to go in?
It’s important that we take time to evaluate where we are going in life, and why we’re doing what we do. Spending the time to determine what we want and desire in life will lead to us having the life we desire. Sure, there will be times when we make mistakes, or when we go down a road that is really a dead end. Maybe (likely) we’ll decide later in our life that some of the roads we were going down no longer are directions we want to go. But in going down these new roads as we lead our life, we get to know ourselves better.
So, explore those new roads out there. You’ll find new things, and learn more about yourself in the process!
Very well put. I think you hit the nail right on the head with this post.
Going down the road we know often feeds a bad habit. Making the time to find a new path (or road) can open ourselves to new and exciting opportunities.
Thanks for the great reminder.
Hi Lance,
I had a similar experience just yesterday. Instead of a turkey, it was ten year old boy, who ran out across the road. He ran from behind a bush so I had no hope of seeing him. He kept running, which saved his life and possibly mine too.
The other factor that saved his life was a stroke of pure luck. Quite unusually I had changed lanes, and for no particular reason that I can remember. Had I not done so I would certainly have hit him.
I’m ashamed to say I was travelling too fast — the road had a 50mph limit and I was doing 70.
Without really thinking about it I was hurtling down that road recklessly, with my mind elsewhere.
How many of us do this with our lives?
I was on the right road yesterday, but through my complacent attitude I was oblivious to the possibilities.
It was a reminder to me that even when you are on the right road, you can still make bad decisions, and usually you live to do something about them. Thankfully!
I really like what you’ve written here. It speaks to me about some choices I’ve made in my own life recently.
All the best,
Dave.
@Rachel — Thanks, I just need to remember this more often myself!
@Barbara — The hardest part can sometimes be making the time to discover new paths — good point.
@Dave — That is a real eye opener when it’s human life, thanks for sharing the story. You really relate it well between that and the metaphorical roads we’re on. Again, thanks for sharing.
often, too, folks need to remember that a dead end (in life at work, at home, at play or in relationship) is the best place to turn around…many resist
Peter — right, it is so easy to stay on those dead end roads — but they’re leading us nowhere. That’s really the time to find a new direction (even though it may not be easy). Thanks for stopping by!
Lance, I get to see many new roads because my husband likes to take different routes when we go on trips. It definitely makes life much more interesting. You see fantastic sights and meet wonderful new friends.
Patricia — there is a real wonderment in taking a different road, path, direction — sounds like you do that often. Enjoy these different directions!
Routine is good in a sense. At least we do not have to tax our brains when we have a routine for certain tasks. We will do it automatically. The problem is that we forget that times change, and routine must change too.
.-= scheng1´s Last Fabulous Post ..Yeast infection and food =-.
I don’t think I understand what you are getting at. What does the turkey symbolize in your story? Do you see it as a portent of evil or of good? Does the turkey represent a more primal “jungle” of life? Clearly, the turkey is PIVOTAL to this story, yet you do not opine on its significance at all. Please do so.
Also, in your opinion, why did the turkey cross the path?
Inquiring minds await your further exposition. L&K, Ida Mae