GPS for the human soul...

I took a road trip this past weekend... Went up to SC to pack up all my worldly possessions, put them in a POD and see them driven away... Up until recently,, I felt like I was pretty clear on the direction my life was headed...

Single
Independent
Career Minded
Up for the Challenge of a new job
Comfortable with the life I had
Firm in my beliefs

And then,,,, everything changes... I couldn't help but see the irony as I was driving along I95. It's pretty much a straight shot from one door to the other,,, but I still had to have the GPS unit on,,, It made me feel comfortable.... Knowing that if I got off the designated path, it would quickly redirect me, pointing me once again to the straight and narrow.... The analogies are endless, so I will spare us both...

But what do we do, as adults, when we are all of the sudden faced with choices and decisions that will undoubtedly take us down a rougher road? There you are, driving along, singing to yourself, and then the signs start popping up, Exit Ahead, Road Work Underway, Bridge Out, Last Exit for 356 miles,,, everything in you is telling you to turn off, go the other way, back track, RUN,,

But you are forced to evaluate... If you turn and run,, if you walk away, what could you be missing out on? I've always taken the safe route... Always lived my life for others... Always doing what I thought would make them happy, what would make them comfortable, what would be better for the group as a whole.... If I continue to do that, at 41, what will I be missing out on? It is my nature to protect myself at all costs (frequently meaning I do miss out), but if I don't do it, who will?....

Against everything I am,,, I'm leaning towards going down the road less traveled (well at least it's less traveled for me).... Slam the Jeep into 4 wheel drive and forge ahead. Go through the rockiness, go through the harshness of the unpaved road, take the risk... Don't they say the the best things in life are the things you have to fight for, the things you have to struggle for? I've had a couple friends recently, who have had to face the uncertainties of life, who've had to come face to face with the fact that we simply do not have all the time in the world... At this point in my life, can I afford to wait for my own happiness? Should I not seize what ever opportunity I have?

I feel like my GPS is beeping loudly, and John Clease is shouting for me to turn around and drive in the opposite direction. Instead I opt for the last scene of Thelma and Louise... People shouting, sirens blaring, I floor it, dust flies, and I drive off the edge of the cliff,,, just waiting with anticipation to see what happens next ...... I've always believed that the car somehow miraculously landed safely at the bottom of the Grand Canyon, and they drove away, laughing hysterically, at the fact that they had survived, and will now be able to lead the lives they have truly wanted....