Path

 

Image credit: Unsplash.com

Hey, You!

I learned one big life lesson this week in what may seem like a random coincidence during my usual daily walks. 

Now, let me get straight to it.

This day, I had decided to include a different and longer route to my plan because it was a Saturday plus I had very little physical activity the day before so I felt, why not do more kilometers today? Sounds like a good plan right? Until I started feeling slight pain in my left hip. So I told myself to slow down. Then I got to a junction on my new route - I was familiar with the road but never really walked through the path in recent times. 

I kept looking around and marveled at how much had changed in the area in the last 2 years. There were lots of buildings and ongoing construction projects. I smiled and reaffirmed the fact that a lot can indeed happen in a year. Anyways, I remembered that there was a shortcut that would link me faster to my street as opposed to taking another route that seemed longer to me. 

As I approached the road that connects to the junction, I noticed it was slightly flooded and the people in front of me had to jump over a narrow plank. My first instinct was to turn back and take the other route in peace before publicly embarrassing myself as I imagined how I would navigate the plank. I had turned but was immediately self-motivated, and I encouraged myself to go back after seeing the distance I would cover walking back to the other junction. So I mumbled to myself, ‘it can’t be that bad. ‘is it not just that small flood’. 

Then I redirected my route toward the flooded road. As I jumped over the first gutter, a car drove past, pushing the water forcefully on the road against the plank. I noticed that the tiny plank tilted a bit from the force of the water. It may have been a slight tilt but my mind imagined much worse as I saw another car approaching. Immediately, I ran back! 

Abegg, I can’t come and injure myself because of a shorter route jare. I began laughing at myself at how I gave up so easily because of fear. I pushed aside that “motivational thoughts” and admitted that I made the right decision. I mean, what if I fell and hurt my hip and ankle? Sha, I kept walking towards the junction, dancing slightly as I continued listening to Mariah Carey’s playlist. The soundtrack for the animated movie, Prince of Egypt featuring Whitney Houston was now playing. 

After a little while, I got to the junction that would have been the place I would have connected to if I had been able to pass through the plank hurdle. I looked up and noticed a gate - a locked gate. Chai! I laughed and imagined how frustrated I would have been if I had gone through all that stress, maybe fallen, and walked up down a stretch to a locked gate. The answer was simple, I would have gone back right to where I was coming from and eventually walked back to the route I eventually took which was slightly longer.

Then I thought to myself, sometimes, not every mission is aborted out of fear. Many times, the shortest route may not always be the best plan for you. What may seem like a long journey or wait can be made enjoyable while “waiting”. 

Lastly, life can teach us immense lessons from random or ordinary events, be mindful and take notes. I knew I had to share this with you and I truly hope that you are encouraged to stay true to your dreams and path! 

Love, 

TA