The Joy of Changing Direction
Julie Jordan Scott

Buttercup, Hank and I made our way towards the
bluffs, aiming towards a refreshing Sunday
morning walk.  I looked ahead and saw what
looked like a flock of St. Bernards slowly
ambling towards the bluffs as well.

Unfortunately for me, Buttercup saw them,
too.  She started getting excited and pulling
on her leash and I knew the only choice I
would have to maintain my aim of refreshing
Sunday morning walk was to take a detour.

I turned left instead of going straight and
pondered the metaphor in the change
in direction.

It reminded me of life - as I thought I would
have lived and the life I have actually lived.

I wasn't passing judgment on my life in looking
either way - it was more a moment of deep self
witness.  I watched as my feet stepped along
the road. I admired the houses on the path,
not the ones I usually see.

I thought of how there was a time I would
have liked to have lived on this very street.

I thought of how sometimes we think the
straight path, the "shortest distance" path,
is the one we are supposed to take.

I crossed the quiet, hilly street to another
much like it and kept breathing and stepping,
breathing and stepping. Hank and Buttercup
didn't seem so interested in speed walking
and I was grateful.

We got to a house on a corner, the house
belonging to my long-ago-now-boss. He is
no longer where we used to work but
his home- as mine - is still the same.

I looked up at the house.  I noticed the
second story porch resembled a jail cell
with its up-and-down metal bars.  I wondered
what prison he was holding himself in?

I paused, contemplative, and turned the
symbolic mirror to my own face.  I
wondered what self imposed jail cell
I have chosen?

Hank took care of business and I laughed
again at the irony- and the beauty - in
metaphor.

We walked up to Panorama and across to
the bluffs, the place where we usually walk,
from a decidedly different vantage point.
The river was still beautiful, my step was
still sure, and it felt even better than
if we had gone our usual way.


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Julie Jordan Scott is a Writer, Speaker, Success Coach, Actor,
Workshop Facilitator and Mother Extraordinaire who works with
creative, active oriented people to lead remarkable lives
through coaching, teleclasses and ecourses. Visit her website
to find out more and subscribe to her award winning ezines now.
http://www.5passions.com - Dare to Discover Your Passion