Tuesday, January 14, 2014

Off Trail


As I sat in a cedar forest on Friday morning enjoying the beauty around me, I realized not many people get to experience going off trail. I do spend a fair amount of time on the trails, but if a set of animal tracks head off trail you can bet I am going to follow them. And if there is a sound calling out to me from off the trail, I will follow it too. If I have the desire to get into the woods, I mean really get into the woods, I do, and that often means going off trail.

Thinking about this in the quiet of the woods on Friday morning I came to the realization that not only do I go off trail in the woods, I tend to do it in life. I am not one to follow the well worn path, I like to be different, I enjoy carving out my own path and I love the experiences that come with it. This is not something I do consciously, it is just who I am.

I wonder though how many of us follow that well worn path just because. Because it is what is expected. Because it is what we should do. Because it is what everyone else does. I challenge you to step off that path, go off trail, surrender to the fact you don't quite know where it is going to take you, and then enjoy the ride.

It might be a little scary, you might find it exhilarating and you might discover something about yourself you didn't know. Life, your life, is right in front of you, will you spend following the well worn path, or will you carve your own, off trail?

19 comments:

  1. We just did a little off trail exploring yesterday - it was exhilarating!

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  2. At this point in my life, I am taking a journey to discover myself. In the process of being a mother, a wife and a friend ... I lost myself in the process. This year though, is my year to take those steps and begin to see who I am. scary.

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    1. Scary, yes, but what a year you will have. Enjoy!

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  3. Being different is what makes the world go round. Less time spent on the internet or watching tv with ads leads to a peaceful productive life. Life is full of new paths, isn't it??

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    1. So true Karen. New paths are everywhere, you just have to have the courage to take them :)

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  4. Totally agree, speaking metaphorically of course, I've pretty much lived my professional life that way.
    XO

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  5. Oh, yes, this so describes me, both hiking and in life. Love this analogy!

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  6. Yes! I love this. Going off trail can be very scary but so rewarding too! I like to follow my gut feeling...like soft animal prints in the snow. :) Thank you Kim!

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    1. Thanks Halina. That is beautiful..soft animal prints in the snow :)

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  7. lovely! I will say, in my younger days, I was much more off an off-trail gal than I am today (both in the literal and metaphorical sense). But, these days, the times when I do manage to carve my own path, they seem so much more special to me when they did when I was younger. Something I should do more often! Thanks!

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    1. Thanks Taryn. I feel the same way. Maybe it is the fact that we know we are choosing a different path, going off the well worn path and in a sense being who we really are that makes it so much more special as we age...

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  8. I've always follow my gut instinct. It always lead me to a path the is different from everyone else but has brought me nothing but joy. Following the herd is a path of comfort and familiarity. Humans are lazy and often creatures of habit. And that's ok sometimes. But yes I am glad you've invited people to step off the trail. It always leads somewhere wonderful.

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    1. Yes, comfort and familiarity...and some people like that, me not so much :) Your gut never leads you astray.

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  9. I agree - so many people seem to follow that well worn path "just because". But it can also be easier, less scary, and you often have a lot more societal acceptance! However, the less worn path is where change for the better happens and where we can feel good that we are following our hearts! It is often more rewarding in the end. (And some of us just can't help ourselves!)

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  10. My family and I are definitely carving our own trail. xxoo

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    1. You are Julie and I love following along :)

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  11. Haha, I'm well known around here for doing my own thing. I'm glad I have always been confident in who I am and I never felt the need to try to be someone or something else.

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    1. I kinda figured that Elisa. I think you and I have a lot in common :) It definitely takes confidence.

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