Have you ever been on a road, so sure you
knew exactly where you were going and what
to expect and then...... when you least
expected it, a detour sign appears right
in the roadway?
And all your plans are at least momentarily changed.
For most of the last decade, I was secure on my journey,
roadmap in hand, snacks ready in case of delays. Sometimes
traffic had slowed me down, sometimes a stray car might cut
me off, but mostly the trip was of my planning.
Just like travel brochures, I had vision boards and in place of
souvenirs, I held on to crystals and quartz bowls.
I wasn't traveling alone, I was caravanning with my friends,
the best traveling companions I could imagine. People I loved,
who understood the trials of traveling and were happy to swap
stories at the end of the day.
And then, out of nowhere, this "unknown detour" sign appears.
It was not on my itinerary, and I have to admit, I was
speechlessly surprised.
Okay, enough metaphors! Those of you who have followed
this blog are aware something has been up. At first I thought
I had lost my way - I was unwilling to admit that a new
direction might be calling. I struggled as I slowly allowed
myself to admit that what I had loved so much was no
longer calling to me.
How could this be? What was wrong with me?
Leaving the corporate world, finding my spot with essential
oils and then learning how to share them with others had been
so fulfilling. I still believed in what I had been doing, I still
wanted to be of service - and yet, that excitement and passion
now felt diluted. But to even begin to question this somehow
felt disloyal to my journey.
So I shut down. I was really depressed. Just as long ago I
had questioned who I would be without my job - now I was
questioning who I would be without the essential oils, without
my label of aromatherapist. Confusion was my only
authentic feeling.
And just as taking a detour requires making the decision to go
down a new road, finding my way required me letting go of my
past journey. Amazingly, the moment I sent out a notice that
I would no longer be creating the oil blends, I began to see a
new path. I had to commit to changing courses before I was
able to see the new road. I had to trust the signs that even
though the detour was "unknown", someone had been there
before. I mean someone had put up the sign - right?
As I gave myself permission to just let go and see what would
happen, I began opening to what seems to be my next journey.
A love that had been set aside began to come forward and a
new plan is starting to take shape.
I looked around and this detour is not so bad. In fact, it 's
pretty fun and filled with new sights and new travelers. I
have a vague idea of where this road is leading,but I am
not for sure enough to speak with confidence just yet.
After all, I have just found this path.
Right now, I'm just exploring a new space, checking out
the sights and wondering where the pie shop is. So should
we meet and share something?
Meanwhile, I send some postcards along the way.
My journey is changing rapidly too. The direction is still basically the same, but there have been some MAJOR detours. I look forward to your postcards & I hope the pie shop isn't too far!
XO
Posted by: Alannah | 06/22/2012 at 09:42 AM