Feature photo by Diego Cupolo.
This guest post comes from Jonny Gibaud, who writes at TheLifeThing.com
School – Work – Eat Some Strawberry Pie – Die.
Surely there is more to life and living than this? because if not then I want out. Shall we just take a moment to remind ourselves of the road “most traveled” and why getting out of the un-winnable rat race, whether by leaving the track completely or just moving to the outside lane where the views are better, should be high on our life goal list?
This Beautiful Thing Called Life
Life is not simply about surviving, for making do and settling for less then the best. Life is not something to be endured or regretted. Life is not being stuck in the middle of six lanes of traffic going in a direction you really don’t want to go with an aggressive backseat driver.
Life, conversely, is like imported Italian ice cream. Something to be enjoyed, to be experienced, to be toyed with, risked, investigated, challenged, experimented on and, over all, “Devoured” with lots of mess around the facial region.
Life is too short and too expansive to be trapped on autopilot on the superhighway that is the “Road Most Traveled.” How can we slam on the brakes and get off? How can we avoid falling into the trap of following the “Road most Traveled”, and instead go for a wander along the “Path” that is least followed? Away from the pollution and the noise, it is a much more beautiful experience.
The Road “Most” Traveled
I have found, in my experience, that the road “most” traveled is generally job-focused.
It is the old cliche of “go to school to get an education in order to get into college so that you can get a good job and start a good career, spend 50 years of your life working hard and then spend a few of the last years having fun with your walking stick before kicking the bucket.”
I don’t know about you but, like four-day-old seafood, that’s just not doing it for me.
In this case, the term “Job” can be supplemented for any individual aspect of a person’s life that takes an uneven share of a person’s focus.
Like farting in public, it just so happens that jobs and careers tend to be the main single-focus offenders to most people.
Life is not just about a career or any other single aspect of living, and yet those riding along on the road most traveled tend to focus solely on this facet whether this be a career, your relationships, your goals, your 10 Pin Bowling prowess or any of the many things other things people focus on.
Whether you are driving a Ferrari or a Banger, on the road most traveled you’re all going to end up in the same place.
I understand the logic for people focusing on their career early on, then maybe shifting focus to their family after that and then finally shifting focus to themselves when all the kids have left home, it’s just that this approach tends to lead to a very unbalanced life all the way through, where one aspect is focused on to the detriment of the other aspects of life.
This single focus of just one section of a person’s life, having it as the center of existence to one degree or another, is the key indicator of the road “most” traveled and leads to an unbalanced and ultimately, in my humble opinion, less interesting and overall fulfilling existence.
So what is the alternative? Well, here is a suggestion.
The Path “Least Traveled”
There will be uneven ground, there will be potholes, there might even be the odd wild cat, and yet all this is worth it because there will be spectacular views.
The path least traveled is just that, a path – a more risky and thus generally more eventful journey than the road tarmacked for the majority.
The path less traveled is like a Tightrope walking Cat performing in a very strong head wind. It is “Balance”-focused.
A “balanced” approach to life is not about not focusing on a job or any other single aspect of life but conversely focuses on seeing a job or career or any other aspect of one’s life as exactly that, one aspect of their life, not the aspect.
The path least traveled focuses on ensuring a healthy balance between all aspects of one’s life so that, in the same way that eating some greens with your red meat, you will enhance the experience.
The path “least traveled” understands that life is not and should not be defined by a single focus, but that ultimate happiness comes from experiencing everything life has to offer, at every stage.
Puffer Fish Jobs
Like the puffer fish, a job can give the illusion of being a monster with spines that requires your full attention, but in reality it is but a tiddler in the vast ocean of your potential experience.
A job, while important, is but a small part of everything that makes you who you are, and yet how many of us spend up to 100 hours a week or more focusing on careers to the detriment of all the other things that life has to offer. Your job will eventually be taken over by someone else, the company will go on without you, and you will be forgotten about fairly shortly after you leave. It is a brutal truth.
Unfortunately that is just the nature of the beast that is corporate life, it has sharp teeth, a rather bad nature and a very poor memory.
Knowing this then, are the hours you are pouring into this one avenue of your life really that well invested?
Is spending up to a 100 hours a week focusing on one small part of your life really time well invested?
People who travel the path less traveled see their career or any single aspect of their life as just one small part of their journey and existence and not the sole focus.
The path “least traveled” is an unconventional approach and people are right to say that with this more balanced approach one will probably not be able to build empires, reach the lofty career heights, be involved in every moment of their kid’s lives or spend a couple of years of pure self-focused retirement. This is true but…
It is worth remembering that empires do not last, careers are fleeting, children will not want you in their lives 100% of the time and retirements, like office parties, are vastly over-planned and under-executed.
The Key To A Full And Successful Existence
The key to a full and successful life is always to have balance. If you are currently doing 80 on the “Road Most Traveled” maybe it’s time to reflect on exactly how this is shaping your life and whether straying from the road and moving to the “Path Least Traveled”, having more balance in how you spend your time, finance and focus would improve your quality of life.
I have found that, in the most part, so-coined “Life Designers” are quite good at living in the moment and experiencing as many aspects of life as possible in balance, no matter what stage of life they are at. We could learn a lot from these guys on how to enjoy life and live more fully involved with everything it has to offer, no matter what your age or situation.
-If nothing else why not try it, if it’s not for you it is very easy to find your way back to the road again: just follow the noise.
Jonny Gibaud writes for the love of Helping People, Inspiring People, and Katie Holmes. He honed his unique writing style through his refusal to read for fear the words would attack him and borrowed his life philosophies from the local stray terrier but plans to give aspects of them back.
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Elegant, colorful and full of strange animal metaphors as always, Jonny
Great reminder for people, too. People tell me all the time that they would love to do what I do but they couldn’t stand the risk of not having that steady paycheck.
Bollocks to that, I say!
Couldn’t agree more!
It is important to remember that, you’re working live can give you purpose. This is a fundamental drive in life. When people fail to thrive it’s because of a lack of purpose.
Most people need the structure of a employer based work environment as they have a lack of either skills or ambition to drive through a alternative option.
i worked full time in the NHS and became very unhappy with working for someone else. There rules their way. Even if it’s not the right way. so for me even though it was scary I took the leap into the unknown and started up a company which quickly grow to provide me with income and Purpose.
Don’t get me wrong it’s not a bed of roses, this path can be a struggle and sometimes it goes titts up. But as in the words of Chumba wamba, i get knocked down and i get back up again you aint never gonna keep me down. Its this attitude that and drive that sees success.
Jonny mate you have this drive and i know you will be a great success. People watch out for the next Tim Ferris, i predict good things from this guy.
Really enjoyed this Jonny… So many great, wierd and profound lines in here!
My fave is: “Like the puffer fish, a job can give the illusion of being a monster with spines that requires your full attention, but in reality it is but a tiddler in the vast ocean of your potential experience.”
When you gonna come guest post for me?
Definitely agreed. I think a lot this comes from people being jaded with the corporate world. They don’t feel cared for. They don’t feel trusted by their employer. Most importantly, as you stated above, they don’t feel like they have a sense of purpose.
It’s so unfortunate that people get caught in this and I’m struggling through it myself right now. Growing up, we’re not taught to utilize our innate strengths and talents. Instead, high cost education, fancy jobs, big homes and sports cars are seen as signs of success. So, people chase this and then once they have it they realize that it doesn’t make them any happier.
Jonny, I really loved this post. I quit corporate life some years ago, and would never go back. Still, it’s not easy, and there are times when I wonder whether I’m crazy to be on this path, trying to be alive to all the different experiences I have good and bad. Today is one of those days, so I am really pleased to have met you on this road!!
Thank you!
Thanks for all the great comments guys. I am really glad it helped. Cody, you are the man.
Great post Jonny :0)
I like the motivation and the idea to get off the track and out of the rat race. Excited to check out your site and learn more about you!!
Cheers,
Brooke
I’ve been working myself on time management – wondering where to alot my time and concern. I think focusing all of your time on one area doesn’t help – especially if other areas are losing focus in the meantime.
Very insightful. Thanks!
I am currently on the road most traveled, and looking for my exit. I realized how much my life was out of balance when I was laid off earlier this year. I have since taking another job in the corporate world to pay the bills, but I’m actively working on an extraction plan to get out of the corporate world and back into my world. Posts like this get me excited about my future prospects! Thanks!
Great post! I couldn’t agreed more:)
Hey Johnny, How old are you? How did you come up with this great epiphanies. Haha! I love this one! This is a great read in general. About life, about everything!
I really like the “This Beautiful Thing Called Life” Part. Let me quote it — “Life, conversely, is like imported Italian ice cream. Something to be enjoyed, to be experienced, to be toyed with, risked, investigated, challenged, experimented on and, over all, “Devoured” with lots of mess around the facial region.”
People tend not to do things that they are scared of. They are afraid of taking risks and negativity comes first. These people should always look forward and be acceptable of what life has to offer to them. Good or bad, they should embrace it. So they would not end up regretting.
I like the path least traveled. Full of rocks and stuff, but never boring!