How often I’ve listened to people stress out while driving because they’ve missed an exit, don’t know where they are, or had to turn around multiple times to find their way. I could never quite understand the angst or fear, other than the fact that it may cause you to be late, which can have consequences, depending on the occasion. But to visibly sweat and curse, believing the end of the world has come because you’re on a street that you didn’t intend to be? I can’t relate.
I love wrong turns and taking roads unknown. Of course, it is an inconvenience and yes, it can be frustrating if you’ve ended up in an area that’s congested, confusing, or desolate. Yet I’ve never felt lost or upset by the fact that I missed an exit, turned onto the wrong street, or willingly chose to explore an area unknown. If you have a full tank of gas, you’re good to go. Buckle up!
Just tonight I made a stop along the way to our destination. When we were leaving, I battled a roundabout while trying to figure out which direction I was supposed to go in, successfully. Then I missed our exit – and drove on, finally deciding upon a street that looked good for a turnaround. That turnaround was a lovely condo community on the water, nestled into a busy intersection yet profoundly serene and still. Peering into the windows, each home exuded warmth, comfort, and peace on a cold evening illuminating the soon to be full moon. Lights twinkled. Christmas decorations adorned the interior and exterior. I wanted to move in immediately.
We made that turn, re-routed, and arrived at our destination. Yet had we not gone the wrong way, we wouldn’t have discovered that hidden gem of a homestead or traveled over the bridge and taken in the ocean views. We wouldn’t have passed the quaint New England houses or inhaled the smoke from many a wood stove. We wouldn’t have learned a new way to get where we were going – or to discover somewhere else.
Whether it be when driving, or living our life, maybe we shouldn’t be so fearful of taking a wrong turn. Maybe that turn is taking us in the right direction. Maybe it is how life is supposed to be. If we only travel along the path we know, we may never know anything else – how dull and provincial!
I invite you to take wrong turns, venture destinations unknown, and savor the experience of it all. Every wrong turn reveals something new and whether it’s a full tank of gas, or a positive state of mind, you might just find yourself right where you need to be – or discovering a new route to take.
