“Alice: Would you tell me, please, which way I ought to go from here?
The Cheshire Cat: That depends a good deal on where you want to get to.
Alice: I don't much care where.
The Cheshire Cat: Then it doesn't much matter which way you go.
Alice: ...So long as I get somewhere.
The Cheshire Cat: Oh, you're sure to do that, if only you walk long enough.”
― Lewis Carroll, Alice in Wonderland
A few weeks ago I went hiking with my dog in Cold Springs, NY.
Before going, I downloaded a map and decided on the Bull Hill trail, which is about a 3 hour loop.
Now, I didn’t know exactly what this hike was going to be like. I hadn’t read many reviews and also hadn’t ever been hiking alone with the dog.
I didn’t know if it would take more or less time than the estimate.
I didn’t know if there would be a lot of people on the trail.
I didn’t know if the dog would cooperate (which she did...for the most part).
I didn’t know how many breaks we would take, or at what points.
All I knew was the plan (White to Blue to Red to Blue) and the destination (in this case, back where we started).
Could I have changed course midway...explored the Blue trail a little longer before looping back? Sure.
Could I have called it quits early, taking the Yellow path for a shorter loop? Sure.
I had a plan, but I also had options.
I could have changed my mind at multiple points if I decided. Which yes, would have shifted my timeline and yes, would have changed my experience.
But it would not have changed my goal.
Because the end game was always to get to my destination.
How often do you map out your destinations?
For your career?
For your relationships?
For your health?
For your environment?
For your life?
How clearly can you describe where you want to go?
Is it some fuzzy mirage in the distance? Or is it vivid, tangible and meaningful?
So often we hem and haw over the path. Which one is the “right” one? What’s the “best” way?
Yet there is always more than one path and there are always unforeseen circumstances that get in the way regardless of which path we choose.
But if we have a clear goal, we can always use our compass (i.e. our core values, priorities and big WHYs) to course correct whenever we get lost (or if the path is really muddy...or full of snakes).
From the starting point of my hike there were plenty of trails I could have taken. Some short, some longer. But only a few options would loop me back to where I started in less than 4 hours. Which was my goal for the day.
I’m sure other people hiking that day had different goals. Different start/end points. Different physical abilities. Different time frames.
Which is totally cool.
Different strokes for different folks.
We can all hike in the same forest - at our own pace, on our own path, with our own destinations.
But before getting started you need to know where you’re going.
Do you know what you really want? And by when?
Is the path you’re on now one that will get you there?
Or did you somehow get distracted and start following someone else’s map?
Where do YOU want to go?
Investigate the destination before embarking on your journey. Then, with your end in mind, map out a plan and get to walking.
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