One of my philosophy’s in life is that when we are faced with two choices the easy choice is usually the wrong choice. It might be immediately wrong or maybe the cumulative effect of that easy choice causes trouble (like too many potato chips)
The harder choice is usually a smarter choice.
This is especially true in parenting. It is easier to give in to the broken record demands for candy, harder to explain healthy eating principles 1800 times a day without losing your cool.
That’s how I’ve navigated through life- the easy road and the hard road.
Lately I’ve learned about a lesser known road, at least to me, the lonely road. On my quest for personal growth and happiness I’m learning that some of what makes me happy, that honours my true self, might not be a popular choice.
I sit at the crossroads wondering which way to go. There’s the crowded highway to Self-Loathing, turn left at Misery and try not to get stuck in the traffic jam in Anxiety. Or the lonely path to Happiness, stopping for lunch in Self-Worth.
I’ve spent most of my life on the crowded highways of life jostling for a place to call my own. You know how Dr. Phil says “How’s that working for you?” (Does he still say that?) It’s not working out well for me at all Phil.
I’m ready for some new scenery even if it means I have to go it alone.
But like a bad habit that busy highway full of folks keeps intersecting my lonely path and tempting me to compromise and join in the fray of shiny attractions and improved features. And the loneliness
in me thinks that maybe just for a little while I could join all those other people.
Just as I am tempted, I see someone else on the lonely road, someone looking lost and lonely. I wave, she waves back.
Maybe we can be friends.
Thank you blog friends for making the lonely road not so lonely. I’d love you to join the brand new fresh out of the box Kristin’s Glas Facebook page.
>I'm struggling to make a hard choice (going back to work) though at least for the short term it is right for my family. Miserable but right.
An at the same time, I am struggling knowing the lonely road is right for me but feeling like I SHOULD want to be on the crowded road.
This growth stuff is rough.
Also, since your last post about what we tell ourselves – I've felt way better about my body. Thanks for talking it through with me.
>I agree with klz. This growth stuff is rough. But the lonely road at least has less traffic. Perhaps you'll get somewhere you want to be faster.
>Agreeing with the growth stuff being rough. Try to enjoy the scenery, it's better on the lonely road.
>I am on that road, it isn't easy. We are here to listen.
>Sometimes it's easier to hear the great and wise voices in your own head when they're drowned out by the chatter of others. At school ds frequently chooses to play alone and his teacher made a great distinction for me – choosing to be alone and being lonely are very different. He's not lonely or left out he just prefers his own company right now.
>I don't always mind the lonley road. Sometimes I need to take it because I want to scream at everyone else to get out of my way.