Where Am I Going?

Some people think destiny is shaped by the great turning points in life. Not me. I think it is in the choices that we make each and every day, in the little things that we do or don't do, from the moment we get out of bed in the morning until we fall back into it at night. 

Knowing where you're going is only one step toward getting there. For some, self-knowledge takes a long time. Some never figure it out, or find themselves in places they never expected to be. Others might experience a sudden epiphany and decide - hey! I want to be an artist, a musician, a surgeon, a homemaker, a rocket scientist, a whatever. Inspiration can strike - and strike hard! - but deciding on a course and actually toughing out the journey are totally different things. Sometimes we think we know what we want and later decide we're not up to the challenge. And trust me, there will be challenges no matter what. What it really boils down to is this: Are you going to make your life, or allow it to just happen?

The highway to hell may be paved with good intentions, but the road to success is littered with unrealized dreams.

I've always known what I wanted, even though it took a while to get rolling. When I finally did, I still couldn't see very far ahead. I didn't realize how many twists and turns there would be, how many potholes, how much mire. Sometimes even now I want to stop, to turn around and go back, though not as much as I want to see what comes next. No one is forcing this journey on me. The choice is mine, just like the choice is yours. You can sit where you are (and, hopefully, choose to embrace it), or you can  get up off your butt and move.

For most of us, an alternate route to fulfillment doesn't exist. We will either get there through hard work, or not at all. Blaming the bumps in the road doesn't make it any smoother. I have learned to watch out for them, to slow or speed up my pace, and navigate through the worst. Eventually, I'm confident it will bring me to my destination... as long as I just keep going.

It's mud season in Vermont right now (in case the metaphors didn't clue you in) and my road is a mess! I'm about to go face it anyhow. Here's hoping that what you drive through today brings you that much closer to your goals!