Wandering

JRR Tolkien in The Lord of the Rings wrote a familiar quote: 'not all who wander are lost'. In fact it may be just the opposite. Wandering is an incredible strategy that may help us find the way we need to go.

It is easy to be lost and not know it ... thinking we know where we are and where we are going.  The landmarks are familiar, it is just like we planned, just a few more steps, the moment of arrival, and then ... for some reason ... the destination isn't like we expected it would be.

The most important destinations are rarely that straight forward. The best ideas, not that forthcoming.  A structured path or process does not work in all situations. You may need to learn to navigate in a different way. 

Wandering may not seem efficient, leaving many to just stick with what is familiar and comfortable.  Also, with our busy lives, who has time to wander?  It is at times like this  that leaving our ordinary life behind for a bit and wandering may be just the key that we need. 

Three ways to wander:

With yourself - Give yourself permission to take some time and explore your thoughts and feelings and accept what comes up.  It is so easy to fill up every moment so our deeper thoughts and feelings have no time and space.  The key here is to give yourself permission and then observe without judging yourself.  You do not have to act on them, just being curious. 

With ideas - Go to a library or bookstore and see what captures your attention.  Walk through the aisles.  Pay attention to what catches your eye and don't judge.  Maybe pick out and read a book that is out of the ordinary, that intrigues you.  The key here is to step outside of your familiar habits and interests and be challenged by a fascination that you didn't even know you had or that you have not given expression to in the past.

With others - Leave familiar paths and engage in curiosity with others.  Everybody has a story but we rarely hear what it is.  Initiate a conversation with someone new or someone that you see regularly but realize you don't really know.  Ask an open ended question like what was a favourite memory growing up or who do you admire and look up to and why?  Then listen.  The key here is to leave your world behind for a bit and engage in someone else's.  Resist the urge to comment or tell your story and be open to additional questions that may take you further into their story. 

Daniel

The best mosaics have a lot of pieces...