Recently I was lost in Houston.
On a morning walk I got completely disoriented and couldn’t find my way back to my sister’s house. I saw the bridge of the freeway and my heart sank!
This is not the first time I have got lost.
I have a terrible sense of direction, and on holiday it’s at its worst without my trusty safety net of Maps.
Ironic as I spend my days focusing on finding direction in life and work!
As before, I asked for directions from a fellow walker. Who listened kindly and pointed me in the right direction.
He must have realised I wasn’t 100% sure of where I was going as I found him waiting for me a few junctions down.
He then walked me all the way back to the top of my road. I wouldn’t have got there without him, and I had the unexpected bonus of a lovely conversation with someone I had never met before.
It turns out being lost wasn’t such a bad thing after all.
I learned that…
Feeling lost is useful. While it was a horrible feeling at first, at least I knew I was off track and needed to explore how to get back on it.
I wasn’t actually that far off track. When things feel unfamiliar it can feel as though we’re a long way from where we want to be, but often it’s not as bad as we think.
Asking for support is really useful, and it can bring unexpected connection. I loved walking and talking with Walter.
You don’t know how much support you need until you start. Sometimes we just need a signpost. Sometimes we need a few more directions. Sometimes we need someone to walk with us along the path until we can see the direction more clearly.
It’s useful to pay more attention to where you are going or you can make the same mistakes. I made the exact same wrong turn a few years ago. Hopefully it will be third time lucky!
So if you’re feeling lost - in any way - and wondering where the path went, take heart.
You may not be that far off track.
You can always ask for help.
The journey could bring unexpected gifts.
Wishing you all a wonderful week,
