Road Work Ahead

There is one absolutely direct path from my home to Peterborough, it forms almost a straight line, but I do not take it that often. It has high hills that you cannot see beyond, it spends most of the winter snow covered, there are often tractors and, most compelling, my mechanic told me to stop driving on it.  There are frequently potholes and rough patches, and my mechanic was tired of my broken springs and bent rims. 

Recently I that route again – after all, it is direct, scenic and leisurely compared to the highway.  I was delighted to find that 80% of the road is now paved and wonderfully smooth.  So yes, there are still blind hills and tractors, but the thick black pavement has smoothed all my mechanic’s wrinkle lines. 

Made me think of all the other things that we sometimes stop doing or dreaming or trying for lots of reasons. Lack of time, shortness of resources, low energy, obstacles that outnumber us, all could make us take detours or stop. Do we ever go back? To check in on change, perhaps we have more time because the kids are older, we have some resources because of a job change or we have developed skills and stamina since last time. 

How sad would it be if our response about our long-held dream was that we tried it and it was too hard and so we no longer travel there. What if that was something stupendously enjoyable or rewarding, and now we avoid it?  Of course, there was every chance that the road could have been exactly as before, but how wondrous that it was so different. I can get along with tractors and keep right on the hills so that from time to time I can enjoy my drive that much more. Have another look at a path you left behind, could be a far different road that you travel today, than when you sojourned there last.

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