Two roads diverged in the wood, and I – I took the road less traveled by and that made all the difference.

Artistic video of Frost’s Poem  by QuestionVerum2010  Beautifully read, stunning pictures

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
To where it bent in the undergrowth…

Then took the other, just as fair, 

Do you think about the paths you have traveled in your life, the choices you have made?  About how you got to where you are?

I do. A lot….even more lately.

Unlike many Americans, my path has never been designed or chosen to take me to success, or power, or money, though I have had some version of all of them proportionate to being a social worker, anyway.  Walking alongside my minister husband, our compass set on meaning, our way has been guided toward fulfilling a purpose for life.

So, my road has led me in interesting directions, branches that I hope not only made a difference in my life but, also, in the lives of those with whom I walked:  young children, teens, the homeless, mentally ill women, the battered, the abused, juvenile offenders, foster children, families in trouble, dropouts.

Everyday we trade away a piece of our lives though most often we are so busy we don’t think about that. We only tend to think about it when we get to those places where suddenly the path diverges and we have to make a change, a path correction, a choice for our next direction. Then we pause to ask, Where do I want to go? What is important to me? What am I willing to trade for this path?

Sometimes, in the autumn of our lives, we even question if it’s time to go back to a path we contemplated but did not choose in the spring. We question if we have any regrets we could eliminate by our next path. Or, if not as strong as regret, we can contemplate taking an adventure we always wished we had taken. “Can I can do it now? At Last?”

I have been so lucky….so blessed. I have lived a life rich in fulfillment. Now, laid off, I need to look for a new way forward.  My choice of path is influenced by all the choices that I have made before. So, though I am not sure at this moment where I will go, I know the right choice lies just ahead.

Some may say that this is true because of who I am.  Don McLean put it this way, “There’s no need for turning back. All roads lead to where I stand. And I believe I’ll walk them all, No matter what I may have planned.”  Fate. The universe. Our future in the stars of a starry night.

Put into my belief system, I believe God has the plan. Sometimes, roadblocks get in His way, but if I am faithful, He’ll open new doors for me that will make all the difference.

So, no matter what your belief system, or where you are on the road, my wish for you is that you find your calling, enjoy your path, and trust the journey.