Life isn't easy
Love never lasts
You just carry on
And keep moving fast
-Eric Kaz
Well, that sounds depressing. But this post is not about getting where you are going; it is about going where you are getting. In your own way, using your own directions.
Let's look at Google maps. Imagine you know where you are. And for the sake of argument imagine you know where you want to end up. Which may or may not be the case, but for now, let's say you have chosen a destination. Google may provide you with three equally valid choices of directions. That is three ideas for how to proceed, each of which delivers you to your destination.
One way is often the shortest for a given parameter, perhaps rush hour traffic. Another way may be more scenic or stay off busy highways, another way may be -- oh, who knows what sort of algorithm Google uses to pick its differing routes! And for fun, you can begin dragging the routes around if you have a notion. Go off course to see the sights! Have you ever tried to undo one of those click/drag experiments? When I do this I usually end up with some sort of curlicue that adds hours to the hypothetical drive.
The point to get out of this is that the routes all get there. They all point forward in the long run. There may be some backwards driving around ("recalculating"), but the directions on the map allow for whatever deviations you insist upon. There will always be some sort of line that you can draw between where you are at any moment and where you want to be eventually. It is up to you how long you want to take on the journey, how off the beaten track you wish to roam, how long you want to dally in any one spot, how many distractions you insist upon experiencing. YOU CAN ALWAYS GET BACK ON A TRACK!
Life is a journey, finding a career is a journey, love is a journey, any sort of goal is a journey. And whether you recognize it or not, you are always on the map. You are never lost. Sometimes you may be confused in a curlicue of your own making, but the map is below you, inside you, awaiting recalculation. Simply stop driving, recall what the destination was when you began the journey, and hit the gas. Then be grateful for all the scenery you never expected to see, and appreciate how the diversions have enriched your trip.
