A few posts back I posted about the coming new year and how I planned on moving through it. I subscribe to thedailybuddha.com and each day I receive a meaningful message. Yesterday’s message was so right-on that I had to share it with you.
I think of myself as zig-zagging through life always moving forward but never in a straight line. Jim from thedailybuddha.com (He writes the daily messages but I couldn’t find any more information on him) summed up exactly how I feel about moving through life.
He says that as life moves forward some of us think we have to move along with it. And admittedly this is true to some degree. But maybe we want to sidestep a bit. We might come to a fork in the road and take it. We might be ready to just stop and take a break. Jim says, “Life is not a line even through we are conditioned to see it this way”. In reality our life follows a path that often twists and turns and although it can seem off course …. we are still moving forward.
So, forward doesn’t always mean straight ahead. You may decide to take the off road path rather than the superhighway. We don’t want to be in a rush to get to the end of our being.
Indeed, nothing in the definition of forward says it has to be in a straight line. Here’s Webster’s definition: forward; in the direction that one is facing or traveling; towards the front. So forward could mean you might have to backtrack, get sidetracked, circle around or just sit still for a little while.
Sometimes these diversions are annoying or frustrating. We don’t understand the blocked path. But I can tell you that in my experiences, some of my diversions from the straight line are my best memories, most knowledgable experiences and exhilarating, serendipitous happenings. When you backtrack, turn around or sidetrack you embark on a new adventure and will come back to the main path when it presents itself. Sometimes you might feel stuck in a situation but just take the time to understand why you are there. Jim Says, “Don’t avoid these moments but embrace them as lessons to learn, experiences to gather and wisdom to be found”.
If we change how we feel about so called “obstacles” or “road blocks” along our journey, we can shift our attitude to search for meaning from the experience. I despise this saying but sometimes you have to say it. Things happen for a reason.
Enjoy the trip!
Namaste, DeeDee
mindful things 
“How long the road is. But for all the time the journey has already taken, how you have needed every second of it in order to learn what the road passes by.” — Dag Hammarskjöld
In our travels, diversions from the path to our destination have been the most meaningful.
“Thanks to the Interstate Highway System, it is now possible to travel across the country from coast to coast without seeing anything.”
― Charles Kuralt
Yeah, well, our mode of travel is like a ball of yarn being played with by a frisky kitten.
Lynn, I love the quote from Charles Kuralt. Just read it yesterday from a new book I got that you would love. It is called Oxymoronica: Paradoxical Wit & Wisdom From History’s Greatest Wordsmiths by Mardy Grothe. Thanks for reading and commenting on my blog. Nice to know people read it!
Great one again DeeDee. My zig-zagging is not as extensive as yours and I am often stuck in a rut, but through my faith I am able to realize that I really am in the right place. Just learning to be more positive and not listening to others tell me I should change to fit a different way and really making me feel that my way is not that good and that I should try to be different, I realize that I am who I am and I really like the loving person I have become. So I am happy with my short zig-zaggings of life. Thanks again sweet cousin.
Thanks sweet cousin Patsy. I’m glad you like my postings. I am really just expressing myself and hopefully helping others to look at something a different way. My faith in the Universe wishes everyone happiness and freedom from suffering. Namaste.