The Road

From nothing

To something

To the thing

I was walking around a green meadow with my arms outstretched and my head held back. I wasn't aiming in any real direction, but I was still walking. It was nice to exist. To just... be.

But then I felt something land on my shoulder. I turned my head to find a blue bird looking back at me.

"Are you having fun?"

"Kind of, yeah"

"What are you doing in this meadow?"

"I don't know... I guess just walking around."

"Don't you want to go somewhere?"

"Yeah, of course I do. But where? There are too many places to go."

"Let's just get you to the road. We can figure the rest out later."

I didn't really have anything to do, so I followed the strange bird out of the meadow.

It called me back, the simplicity and lack of challenge. But I continued on. I would work now and rest later.

We eventually made it to the road and said our goodbyes. Before the blue bird flew away, it said “I’ll be around.” and vanished.

I looked at the road ahead and the expanse around me. I was teriffied. It was too much. I would just go back to the meadow for a while. Just until I was ready. I started turning back when a small voice said to me, You can do this. Just the first step.

I caught my breath and closed my eyes. I could do this. I would do this.

So I took the first step.

The walking wasn’t too bad. I tripped a few times before I caught my footing, but I eventually fell into a groove. Until there was a fork in the road and it was time to make a decision. I stood at the intersection debating, waiting, and a gust of wind nudged me toward a path. I followed the breeze.

Is this what you want to do?

“Yep.”

Are you sure?

“Yep!”

So I made my way down this path. It all seemed right. There were signs pointing to good fortune and wealth. So I was sure this was right for me and that I could do this.

I moved along until a crack in the road snagged my shoelace. I reached to free my lace, and sitting right beside it was none other than that bird.

“What do you want? I’m doing it… walking down the road.”

Is this what you want to do?

“Yes… I told you this before. I’m doing this.”

Then why has your world lost colour?

I looked around me and the world had gone grey. When did this happen? How did I let this happen?

“The wind… the wind did this. It made me walk down this path. I didn’t want to do this.”

The wind saw you standing there, and gave you the push you needed. If it didn't, you would have still been back there. Whether you like the outcome or not, you’ve learned and grown so much more than you ever have before.

You can blame the wind, moon and sky. Even yourself. But the truth is, in order to find what you want, you need to figure out what you don't. Just because it's for some people doesn't mean it's for you.

Thinking about what the bird had said, I began walking back toward the fork in the road.

I would try again.

Once I reached the intersection I took a deep breath. When I walked down the first path, I lost time, some money and almost a shoelace. But now I know some paths are for learning from and not living in.

I looked at my options ahead of me.

I could fall, fail and my will could falter.

But I could also flourish, fulfill and flow in a way I've never known.

So I took the first step.

And then another.

And another.

I looked for the bird, expecting it to say something new, but saw it standing at the intersection behind me.

"You're doing it."

I smiled at the bird as my eyes clouded with tears.

"Thank you."

Something settled in me as I turned around and stepped one more time.