when you come to the end of the road – see what happens if you go further.
There are times when we come to the end of something and we need to find a new direction or even turn back the way we came. There are also times when, although perhaps daunted by a rock, a warning, a discouraging word, or a waterfall, we press on and discover incredible vistas or opportunities. This is why we want to surround ourselves with people who encourage us. This is why we need to trust that if we’re drawn toward an adventure, it may be wise to follow it beyond what we think is the end. One of my most memorable hikes was with my son, during which I felt I could not go another step. He urged me impatiently, promising that ‘we were almost there.’ We were ‘almost there’ for a couple of hours, clambering over rocks and roots for most of the way, but the view from the top of that mountain and the feeling of accomplishment I had is one I will always remember. In the same way, writing a book may feel as though it is completed at last. There is great satisfaction in writing ‘the end.’ Then a friend or editor reads it and we realize we can go deeper, longer, smoother, and even more playfully. Here’s another example: many fairy-tales end with the words “…and they lived happily ever after.” But as we know from life, marrying is actually just the beginning of the journey. If we’re not trying to get somewhere or finish something, we will be amazed at the adventures to be had.