Unique Times

There are many paths back to ourselves and all lead to the same direction.  Being directionally challenged myself, I have had many diversions but eventually came full circle and find my way.  

Life is a plethora of choices. Discerning which choices resonate with you and which path you feel intuitively drawn to is the only requirement.  

Each has its’ twists and turns and many gifts on the journey.  

If you are naturally one pointed, you aren’t usually thrown off by options. You merely jump on the path and head in a straight line without much thought or examination. For others, all directions look appealing and making a decision or choice can send you into orbit and soon you are on land, sea and air all in one day and you haven’t even left the ground. The Road Not Taken by Robert Frost are always words that echo in my head reminding me at the end of the day, we all find our way. “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”.

I have always been jealous of those who are black and white and their clear vision. I see every point of view and have so many interests, it’s hard to hone in on what’s important sometimes and discern if the fork to the left or the right might be a better option. Through training and over time, I’ve learned to stand still until I get a clear sign.

The other day I said to a client on the way to the room; “Take either path; both lead to the same direction.”

Later that week I was on a hike to meet friends and I was so proud of myself for staying focused and not missing a turn only to find out an hour plus into it, I had no idea where I was. I remembered that I had just said all paths lead to the same direction and here I was, lost without a compass even though I got my phone out. Technology is great when it works but reception doesn’t always make it available. So, here I was on the path, stranded trying to find my way chanting my mantra; “All paths lead to the same direction”. I stumbled upon 5 banana slugs, one awesome toy for my dog I picked up, 3 cool feathers and 3 nice water bottles I left hoping someone would return for.

So many thoughts and feelings ran through my mind:

Fear, abandonment, self beat up for being so sure of myself only to be wrong , upset, laughter, and peace all at one time. I even found a stick in the event I needed it for predators that I might have to stave off and fight or run for my life. I couldn’t reach anyone. My Dad who lived up the hill wasn’t answering, my husband wasn’t picking up, none of my friends on the hike picked up and I only got a voice message when I tried to reach my friends up the hill. I felt isolated and that I didn’t matter to anyone. I made a case around all of this that I wasn’t very important and needed to cultivate more friendships and relationships. My whole life was before me in a flash and all of the stories I tell myself were in full heightened awareness. What a wild experience. My body was getting tired and my mind went in and out of all of these ranges of emotion. We all know or should know that our stories are not who we are as much as they try to make us believe otherwise.  

I thought of our friend Jeremy, a Navy Seal that was just coming home after being in Iraq for 6 months and lost his best friend in his Platoon; Charles Keating Junior IV, was recently killed while they were facing the enemy which gave me inspiration to continue forward. I pictured them in the desert or just past the bank in open fire, shooting and running for their lives at the same time. I could see them in the small village at night keeping watch over their platoon mates hyper vigilant and had to laugh that I could even compare my journey with theirs. This is a great example how real or imagined fear can throw our bodies into a fight or flight response.  

I flagged down a biker on a busy road which I hated being on and he directed me towards my location. 

Finally, 12 miles and 20,000 steps later, I found my way only to discover my friends were already headed down the hill.  

My next dilemma was getting down the hill and every friend I knew up the hill was out of town. No bus, but knowing uber was available was a comfort. Finally, a dear friend I hadn’t talked to for quite a long time, picked up the phone and came to my rescue. We had a wonderful time catching up drinking tea and driving down the hill.  

We have gotten so out of touch with the instantaneous gratification, we have forgotten our internal clock and drummer that still exist if we are quiet enough to hear our inner voice, act on it and trust it.  

Devoting ourselves to a daily practice of tuning into the inner wisdom that is always there and staying focused on what is and breathing in and breathing out is all that is required to stay present.  

Our mind’s job is to analyze, judge, barter and make a story to keep us from being in the present moment and asses what we need from moment to moment.  

As I sat in my favorite chair that night with my dogs and my husband by my side, I sighed remembering if we can sit (or walk) long enough, quiet our minds and listen to our hunches and intuition life becomes a blessed journey bringing us back to ourselves and all paths truly do lead us in the same direction.  

Of course it is never a straight line and there are many detours but that is part of the journey and dance of life that bring us back to ourselves where love, joy and beauty exist.

Trust your inner compass and enjoy the ride and remember “All Paths do Lead to the Same Direction even when you are lost.

Happy Traveling,

Cindy

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