August 29, 2020

Not all who wander are lost

In response to my message about “deciding where you want to go before you start driving”, fellow list member Doug Seidl writes (shared with permission):

That’s a good one.

Although... sometimes you don’t know where you want to go, or what you want to more or less of, until you drive a bit.

That’s why people don’t always know what they want in life until they’ve “lived a bit” first. Or know what they want to major in, until they’ve taken a foundation year in university to sample some different things. Or know what foods they love or hate until they’ve tried a bunch of foods in life.

You don’t know what you don’t know, and the only way to find out is to start trying things out.

But I agree that at SOME POINT it’s a good idea to pick a direction.

Doug

Agreed! I’m all for exploration. As Tolkien wrote, “Not all who wander are lost.”

The problem occurs when someone thinks they’re on a journey but they’re actually just wandering around.

Then ten years later they cry in frustration, “How come I’m never getting anywhere?!”

It’s fine to wander, if that what you decide to do.

Yours,

—J

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