Paths, Delays, & Transitions

What do I do when I’m thrown off my path? I pause for however long I need to. I may stop what I’m doing and just sit in utter confusion, waiting to see how I’ll get back on track. Thankfully, I can say that as the years pass, the time of utter confusion decreases; my bounce back from the abyss continues to improve. Next step? I love a good reset day to pick me up. A reset, to me, is always represented by cleanliness. I’ll usually start with a wash day for my hair, braiding it in straight back cornrows. I’ll continue on with the laundry, which will eventually lead me to vacuuming and tidying up the house. Pouring myself into busy work allows me to break away from my expectations and dive into something familiar and comforting.

This will be one of those weeks. Unforeseen circumstances have nudged me off my path. What surprises me is how familiar it feels this time around. I don’t feel throttled or wobbly. In fact, it feels as if I am finally accepting how normal delays and transitions are in life. What’s coming up for me is the relationship that I have with, “my path.” A path would imply that there is a way already paved for you. And while in the past I believed that to be true, I’m starting to understand that it’s the exact opposite. We come from a path that is paved by us, but what lies ahead is uncharted terrain. And if that’s true, then whether I stay on my path or not is irrelevant because I am forging my path regardless.

Okay, I need a moment to let that sink in.