Do You Know Where you Are?

We are currently visiting family in Oregon. I went for a run this morning in a nearby ravine.  I’ve been there before and thought I knew the path well. I decided to take a different way back, thinking it would be so simple and take me to the hill that would lead me back to the main road.  Oh boy.  After a while, I became unsure of where I was exactly. After what seemed like forever, I finally saw someone and asked if I was on the right path to get to the main road.  They asked me the name of the main road.  Uuuuuh, I didn’t know! Instead of beating myself up, I told myself this is a good lesson for me to learn from, and that sooner or later, I’d reach my destination. It made me look at my life’s goals and ask myself” Do you know where you are? And do you know where you are going?”

So I kept on going, and after another long stretch thought I must be going the wrong way because nothing seemed familiar to me.(Create guideposts for yourself in your life’s goals, so you will recognize the right way.  I turned back, only to turn back AGAIN because I wasn’t sure where I was.  I made it to a place I recognized and stayed on the path I knew would get me to my destination.  My 40 minute run turned into an 80 minute run/walk.  I had a lot of time to apply the lessons of my morning adventure.

Whether you are going for a jog or setting a goal in life, you first need to know where you are starting from. Gather important information, like the main road that leads to your end goal. Take note of landmarks (examples of others who have gone where you want to go). Pay attention to your path.  Do you need to change directions?  Will the road you are on get you to where you want to go?  Ask for help, be specific. “I need to get to 19th Street, can you tell me how to get there? Which is the fastest way” etc.

Take some time to evaluate where you are. Are you headed in the right direction?  Are you seeing signs confirming you are on the right path?  Revisit the goals and dreams you set for yourself at the beginning of the year.Take the time to adjust your compass, if needed. Learn from those who have reached the goal or destination you are aiming for.  Keep going. Always know where you are.

Do you have a similar story?  I’d love to hear it!

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