Everything Happens For a Reason...

A breakup. A new job. A death. A move. When friends part ways.

Just a few of the major events in the lives of people I know, including myself. And these events shape us, change us, move us forward. Or, in some cases, move us in a completely new direction.

I was talking with a friend today about how lately I've felt like I'm the backwards version of Robert Frost's "I took the road less traveled and that has made all the difference." I feel like I've taken the road everyone's traveled and I haven't really blazed my own trail. I haven't really done anything with my life. I've played it safe. And gosh darn it, I want to stop doing the same thing, following the same pattern. I need to risk more and perhaps I will gain more.

I've been told, "Everything happens for a reason." And I want to believe this is true. Sometimes it doesn't feel true, but I can't prove otherwise. I mean sometimes we don't know why something has happened in our life until many days, weeks, months or even years later. And maybe we never know why certain things happen. But maybe we're not supposed to. Even so, it's almost comforting to know that perhaps whatever we do is our life. Or maybe not so comforting? Hmmmm...I'm still contemplating this concept.

So, perhaps all the choices I've made so far have led me to this point in my life, for a reason. I mean, why not right? And while I don't know what the reason is yet, I am willing to explore the possibility that I have some more choices to make, easy and hard. I will take those chances, er choices, to make a life for myself that I am proud of. A life that I am excited to be living.

That being said, I know that whatever choices I make, however small or large, will shape my future. That's a given. And while I am always hoping that the choices I make will lead me to someplace I'm truly happy with, I have to accept that there are bound to be many more mistakes and misjudgements, mixed in with happy accidents and kismet.

So, I'm gonna bypass the "road more traveled" and opt instead to kick a few stones and scuff the dirt to create a path all my own. I urge those who read this to do the same.

Carpe Diem!

What Lies Ahead

Change. A concept that is feared by some, embraced by others.

Lately, it's the topic of much discussion between me and several of my friends. That yearning to shake things up a bit. Whether moving out of state, moving out of their current home, going to school, finding a new job, finding a new career, breaking up with someone, starting to date someone new, it's the possibility that things in our lives can somehow be different.

But...therein lies the challenge. How much do we want that change? How do we know it's time? What do we do to make it happen? And how much do we risk in making that change?

Sometimes it's better to try than to look back, years from now, and wonder. Because as a good friend of mine said to me the other day - you have to make mistakes to grow. If you make a mistake, you learn. And I think that's a wonderful concept. One I'm going to hold onto as I keep striding down this road towards my unknown, my next step in my journey of change.

And I encourage you to grab a hold of what your dream, your idea of change, your concept of something new is. Don't be scared of it, don't let it stop you. Remember, if you make a mistake, it's okay.

As Anais Nin once said, "And the day came when the risk to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom." And to quote Erica Jong, "And the trouble is, if you don't risk anything, you risk more."

So, go and be bold! The world is yours!