I was out walking again today, and as ever, it taught me a few things of broader application.  The number of times today that we were happily marching along a clear, straight path, and according to our plan, we were meant to proceeding along a straight path… so no problem, right?  Wrong!  Sometimes, and in fact several times today, the straight path on the map was not same as the one we were walking along.  Knowing when to turn to stay on track is a skill that is very useful.

Another time we were marching along, I was confident that I knew exactly were we were and I saw a road “What is that doing there?” I asked, “There is no road on the map…”   Of course, we weren’t where I thought I was, and I should have seen the road and asked “Where are we really?”   It is so easy to assume that you are where you wish you where, rather than taking account of the evidence before you. 

Despite this little catalogue of minor navigational glitches today, we continued to adjust what we did and had a wonderful walk in beautiful November sunlight; as the sun is so low in the sky now, it produces wonderful gentle and contrasting tones.  Sometimes we need to remember our higher purpose, and today it was simply to be somewhere lovely and get some exercise; my original route was merely one way to do this, and not necessarily the best one.

Having a plan, and working that plan and reaching your goal are not always the same things.  Remembering why you are doing what you are doing is the key to successful navigation and much else….

“Oh, my ways are strange ways and new ways and old ways, And deep ways and steep ways and high ways and low, I’m at home and at ease on a track that I know not, And restless and lost on a road that I know”    Henry Lawson