The path

Have you ever noticed how many phrases and expressions there are having to do with a path or a track?

Find your way.

Get on the right path.

Stay on track.

In fact, I can think of even more that are negative.

You veered off track. You’re off the beaten path. You lost your way. You came to a fork in the road (and probably went the “wrong” way.) You got lost. You hit a roadblock. You broke down. You ran into a detour. You’re stuck.

They all seem to imply that we’re on this one path, one track, and we’re expected to just keep going until we get to the end. Don’t stop. Don’t slow down. Don’t get off. Don’t explore. Don’t change direction. Just keep going.

No wonder we’re all exhausted.

Honestly, “just keep going” is the phrase that really got me through the last few years. Didn’t know what else to do, so I just kept going.

But I’m starting to think these phrases are detrimental to my health.

Why do we have to always keep going, keep moving forward, keep making progress? There is so much pressure to do more.

Be more productive. Be more efficient. Be richer, skinnier, healthier, happier.

If life is a path, does that mean the destination is death?

And if so, why are we rushing to get there? Why can’t we veer off the path or take a break or go a different direction? Why is it bad to be stuck or lost or end up in a place you didn’t plan on going?

People say “stop and smell the roses,” which is a great reminder to pause and enjoy the beauty around us, but why do we need that reminder? Because we’re pressured to just keep going on some path without noticing much?

I love pictures of walkways and trails and boardwalks. I’ve taken so many pictures over the years of various paths.

But why do I love them so much? I’m starting to think it’s less about photography, and more about the clearly defined path in the picture. Why is it so comforting? Because I’m desperately looking for guidance and direction? Because we are told we need to find our way? We’re always trying to make sense of things that don’t make sense, so maybe these paths I enjoy give me a sense of comfort. Here is the path. Go this way.

But life isn’t really like that.

If anything, I tripped, broke my ankle, fell off the fucking path, into a ditch, and have slowly started climbing out. Only to realize I can’t find the path I was on, so now I’m lost in the woods and can’t really walk.

I’m trying to live without a path. Which is so incredibly hard, given that I like to have a plan, I like to be in control, and I like to know what’s coming next.

Love these quotes.

When Ben was one, we took him to the beach and let him walk around on the sandbar. I remember being amazed, as he toddled around with his little shovel, exploring.

I want to live more like that. 👣