The Road Not Taken

Dear Anonymous –

You know, it’s funny you should say that since I was having a convo with a friend recently about this very thing. I would like to expound on that in a very disjointed and disorderly fashion, if you don’t mind.

For those of you who don’t know, Anonymous posted this in the comments last night

To all on our path...

The Road Not Taken

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;

Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.

Hasn't it though???

To all who share this road...my cohorts...for every steep climb, and every well-deserved downhill slope, we travel together on the journey to the best we can be.

Now, I don’t think this is the same Anonymous who offered to be my Valentine in exchange for getting laid – just a guess. I adore Anonymous comments! It keeps me guessing! But I think I have an idea who this might be, which is why I think you’ll appreciate the following brief essay.

When considering what is at stake in your life, before making huge changes and big decisions, it would seem that the thing that creeps up last on the list is the one that should be listed first: Happiness. Or, what my father would call ridiculous Hippie bullshit. I’m not sure where I’m really going with this.

Suffice to say that when searching for whatever it is that drives you toward the best you can be, you can only be traveling on the road not taken. How can you know what your best is if you’ve never been tested? How can you think outside the boundaries of your daily life if you’re walking in the footsteps of others? I don’t think you can.

I wish you luck on the Road Not Taken. I think it will be an eye-opening experience for you. I think you’ll surprise yourself. I think you’ll find your art and consequentially, happiness. Challenge yourself and create, and when you think you’ve had enough of the Road Not Taken; when you’re tired of second-guessing yourself; when you’re not sure you’re strong enough to keep going, I’ll help you out.

I mean, I think I’ll be on that road, too. I’ll have to check the mapquest. Kidding! Seriously, reach out, my friend. I have this little known superpower: I can see in you what you can’t yet.