I’ve been traveling a solitary path for a long time, this is different from a lonely path. It is a path created by me, for me, back to me. What does that mean you might ask? It means, after trying to “fit” in and be who everyone expected me to be, I decided to live an authentic life. What that looked like is honoring myself, doing things that resonated with me, not compromising who I am, ever. Although I have always been surrounded by friends, I have felt alone because my world view doesn’t fall into the “normal” category. For a long time I have been observing people chasing the dream. It was the relentless pursuit of material success. It was higher education, the acquisition of things, the right zip code the right car, the “look”. Yet, as people acquired those things there was still a sense of dissatisfaction, a sense of needing more, or the need to push their kids to achieve all that they could achieve, somehow filling a void where they (the parents) fell short. Nowhere in the equation was happiness, it was just assumed the accumulation of wealth and status would complete you. My happiness was not based on that. I’m sure people judged me for not pursuing that. My happiness was based on being in service to people, to helping people on their life journey cope and move through their suffering. My happiness was based on human connection. I chose not to do all the “right” things to be successful by society standards, but my life is a life well lived. So, I walk alone, on my path. I show up fully for people who cross my path.
My soul connection to others is not defined by gender, race or income. I am an empath among other things. I feel the feelings of people around me, I feel them as if they are my own. Last year as I was driving home from lunch with a friend, I was pulling up to a stop light on a side road running along the freeway. It was a Texas hot day, which is like hella hot. As I approached I saw a homeless man leaning his head on the pillar of the freeway. I thought to myself, that man is suffering. As I got closer, I thought that man is really suffering, then as I pulled up to the light, I felt his suffering as if it was my own. His misery, his poverty, his thirst, his hunger. It was if we were the same person. I had no water to give him, only the left over food on my seat. I rolled down my window right when he looked up and we made eye contact. I handed the food out of the window. No words were spoken, we looked into each other’s eyes and I looked into his soul, he knew I saw him. Not the homeless man, but the Human. We acknowledged each other, my light turned green and off I went accelerating onto the freeway. That moment, along with many other similar encounters changed me. It removed judgment. It allowed me to see the connectivity we all share as human beings. The exterior trappings we “possess” mean nothing. You will not take one thing with you when your time to exit this plane comes, not one thing except the soul you entered this world with.
I have moved into a space of presence, which requires listening rather than talking. I don’t have to prove my point. I don’t need validation from anyone, not my husband, my family, my friends, or the public. I have no desire to win anyone over to my way of thinking. There are so many paths to our final destination. I walk firmly on my path, and often I walk alone. Who would believe that I work on faith? Who would believe that I believe clients will come to me and they do? That is the entirety of my marketing plan. That’s it! I am happy, I am content, my business is growing. I’m not in “the game”, nor do I have a desire to be in the game.
I am in my own lane, putting one foot in front of the other. I am not trying to be anything more than the highest version of myself. I am not judging the path the people around me choose to travel. I honor their journey, but I am not on their journey. I am on a solo journey, sharing what I can with the people around me. The time has come, to stop and look at what is driving you. Where in the equation is life balance, good health, kindness, human connection? When do we stop taking up the battle cry of every injustice reported on the news, and focus instead on being the best versions of ourselves? In the end, you will realize life is a solo journey as it begins and ends with you. Change yourself and you change the world.
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