Pursue some path, however narrow and crooked, in which you can walk with love and reverence.
—Henry David Thoreau
Hmm. I wouldn’t describe my path in life as narrow and crooked — it’s been more wandering and exploring. I’ve walked it with a lot of love, curiosity and gratitude, but reverence? I wouldn’t have used that term, but I do experience a sense of wonder from time to time, so maybe reverence isn’t that far off.
What about you? What has your path been like, and how have you walked it?
May 16, 2017
I’ve never seen my life as anything so well-defined as a path. I’ve just jumped from one thing to another in a rather random way. I’ve had some very different jobs, depending on what was available and what my current skills and experience were. Jenny and I have been together for many years, but we didn’t plan it, so that’s not really a path either. Ditto our gradual shift from a very modest flat to a large house. I’d see my life as more a series of stepping stones than a path.
That would count in Thoreau’s eyes, I think. I remember deciding in my 20’s that I had no idea where my path in life was leading but it didn’t matter. I knew I was on the right track and was curious to see what happened. Life was more adventurous that way.
I never chose a path to walk on. I simply followed life where it took me and continue to do so even now in retirement. I cannot philosophise about it. I was simply in the right place at the right time for many of the things that happened to me.
Sure, and presumably your attitude towards it was contentment?
I always made plans when I was young, but eventually learned that Woody Allen was right when he said, “If you want to make God laugh, tell him your plans.” So now I just go along with the path that emerges as I travel through life. Works better that way.
I had strategies and a sense of direction rather than plans. How do you feel about the path that you ended up taking?
my pathway has changed many times, I have spent many years stumbling along the chronic health route – with little side trips of the good kind of “tripping” – now it’s still on a change, or maybe it won’t, but what I’m doing now is not trying for it to be straight or soft or just right – but to spur me along towards other happier times etc…
Yes, it doesn’t have to be straight or smooth to lead to happiness.