No one is standing Still

its odd; where we find inspiration, isnt it? Some days we inspire others. And, other days they inspire us. It is easy to feel alone when one is setting on on a journey that they alone must take. But, I have discovered, thanks to my face book friends, and coffee friends, and hold my hand friends and the like, that we are all on a journey; it is just that some of us, are more aware of the fact then others. We wake up in the morning, our feet hit the floor and by the time our heads hit the pillow again at the end of it… we are either closer to who we want to be, or further way.

No one, is standing still.

Having said that. I am very clear that there are a precious few who are willing to strap on the pack and face their quest – eyeball to eyeball and say… “at the end of this one of us is the victor…”

I was struck, rather profoundly, in Wild, by the truth that even though Cheryl met people on her trail, and they spent time with one another, and they built meaningful relationships.. they did not travel their walk together.. they had different goals, different challenges to meet. They traveled at different paces, and in truth, they all had one thing in common…. they needed to be alone. Well, except for the group of 20 somethings who were there for the adventure more than the growing, but still.. they were there and they brought with them the needed laughs and security, they I call the “others”.

I have been a little overwhelmed, not only the support that my friends and their friends have given me as I set out to concur this quest of mine…. (My choice to blog was nothing more than my own way to keep me accountable)… But, also by the fact that there are several that have asked how they too could join in….. and it got me thinking…

For those wanting to take this year and walk their way into freedom.. whatever the issues are…. health, finances, relational, spiritual, professional….

1).Sit yourself down and write out your goals..

2).Break them down into bite size pieces.

3).write in some land marks.. example.. By day 15 I will be…….

4). for some, the walking with be figurative.. for others, like me, it will be literal. But it will be a time set aside to do nothing else except meditate, and spend time really getting to understand yourself and how you, and you alone can change the direction of your life.

5). For those that want to literally walk.. My goal is 3.5 miles every day.. maybe the track, maybe country roads, maybe a hiking trail when the weather breaks…..

6). Walking doesnt have to be your “mode”. I am beyond shocked that it will apparently be mine. I hate walking. I hate exercise in general.. but, never the less.. here I go.

Just for clarity. I don’t have any answers, so come knowing that. I am also not looking for “experts” to tell me what they feel is best for me. But, I welcome fellow sojourns who are committed to working on their journey with as much passion as I will be working on mine….

For the literal walkers… lets meet up when we can, walk together, laugh together, show off our blisters and so on. hike a trail or two… and for the figurative walkers, lets me up at a local coffee shop and share where we are in the journey. Just let me know. I hope, come January 1 of 2016 – several of us will be literally standing on the Bridge of the God’s claiming our own victories no matter how big or small that they are… But for now.. I’m still packing my pack, finding the supplies, setting my goals, and preparing for a journey of a lifetime.

I love Robert Frost’s Poem The Road Not Taken:

TWO roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;	5

Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,	10

And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.	15

I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.

Thank You to all those who inspire…. Get your packs ready…. 2015 is about to open itself up in all it’s splendor..Remember we are all moving.. we are either moving closer to who we want to be, or further away. No one is standing still. It inspires me to know that I have surrounded myself with friends who too choose to walk the roads less traveled.