Embracing the Unseen Paths
It was dark and I had no idea where I was. I had just moved to my new home in 2006 and set off for an early morning run. Everything was new and exciting and unfamiliar. Less than a mile in I discovered a park that I knew about but didn’t really understand what it encompassed. I entered in the dark before sunrise and set off on a trail in the woods. The unfamiliar path led me astray. I found myself lost and, admittedly, a little unnerved. That experience lingered in my mind, and I never returned to that trail—until today.
I have run thousands of miles on familiar roads since. I have a handful of running paths, all predictable and well-worn by my running shoes. However, today I went back to that place where I was lost in the woods. Less than a mile from my doorstep, the same trail awaited, unchanged by my absence. As the sun broke through the canopy, I was struck by the beauty I had missed for over sixteen years. It was a poignant reminder of the treasures that lie hidden in plain sight, just waiting to be discovered. Why hadn’t I returned before today?
The Beauty in Breaking Routine
This rediscovery has reaffirmed a powerful lesson: our routines, while comforting, can sometimes blind us to the extraordinary that awaits just beyond our well-trodden paths. Break routines today! Think about how much of your life is routine. The simplest tasks become rote and familiar as we brush our teeth, make our breakfast, shower, and the list goes on and on. Do you drive to work or school the same way every day? Read the same news sources and listen to the same music? How about your work and exercise routines? What if today you proactively broke the cycle, to take the path less traveled or the one forgotten? You might just find something remarkable.
Have you considered what might lie undiscovered if you took a different path? Today, I challenge you to diverge from the familiar. Maybe it’s choosing a different coffee blend or taking a new route on your walk. Simple changes can lead to profound discoveries.
A Call to Discovery
Go out and discover the world today. It doesn’t have to be a trail; it might be a conversation with a stranger, a book gathering dust on your shelf, or a new hobby you’ve been postponing. As my LITSG philosophy talks about, Take a Chance… Get it Done Today. The world is rich with hidden splendor, and it’s closer than you think. Don’t waste another minute doing the same things you have always done. Live Today… Don’t Wait For Tomorrow.
Fourth Book Award
In addition to being an Amazon #1 bestseller, I am proud to announce The Life Is Too Short Guy has been recognized with a fourth literary award. We were just named a Firebird Book winner as the top Health / Wellness book.
Remember, “Life is too short to travel only on paths we already know.” What will you discover today?
Regards,
Scott