The Road Not Taken
By Robert Frost
A poem by Robert Frost, that I had to memorize in its entirety in 7th grade. For whatever reason parts of it have stuck with me and subconsciously risen sporadically since. Recently, it occurred to me that I have had an opportunity to ‘take the road less traveled.’ After three intense semesters in an MBA program (accounting, finance, and R programming), a dramatic build up of an apartment saga and a sense of lost identity (so many contradictions) –a long awaited chance to reset presented itself. With no immediate ties to the city I was born and for the most part, raised it, a temporary reprieve was granted. I jumped at the chance.
Over the last month and a half, I learned many things. Five lessons stuck out:
- Appreciate the little things. Sunsets, lakes, nature and my crazy dog.
- Your problems don’t actually disappear. They follow you. The demons in your thoughts need to be confronted and dealt with. Or they’ll come back.
- Take care of your body and your mind. Diet, sleeping, exercise, drinking enough water. For the longest time I thought I was invincible. Then I thought I would die young. Now I’m learning to appreciate the present and am trying to preserve this beautiful vessel that has carried me countless of miles, to a few continents and through all of the years.
- I am so thankful for the support of my family and friends, which allowed me to undertake this crazy, mini adventure.
- Each one of us is on a journey. Whether it’s the friend who’s been able to abstain from tobacco for 50 days, the yoga teacher dedicating her year to becoming imperfectly green or the soldier awaiting orders for deployment, trying to maintain a presence at home while preparing to be away.
Sometimes, two roads diverge in a yellow wood. Often, the well-trodden road calls to us, it is easy and comfortable. But, on occasion, something down the wilder, slightly overgrown road catches our eye and speaks to our soul. There is no other option, than to heed that calling.
Move Bend Be 