Taking the roads less travelled – there is always a way through

I am going to share with you a very personal story. Over the last two years, I have faced various challenges in my profession and my private relationships which brought up my vulnerabilities, including some traumas that are at the root of some maladaptative reactions and behaviours which I am slowly shedding light on in order to let go. And I am conscious we all have that to some extent. On the surface it manifested by an intense fear of taking highways. Too much information, too high speed, no exit when needed and an ever-increasing inner pressure. Some of you might encounter similar feelings and tensions at your work, on the road, in some life situations.

So for my professional or private trips I started to explore other routes, a kind of slow travel, discovering cities, landscapes I would have never done when travelling fast. ?I made up my own ‘slow travel ‘ plan. But somewhere deep down, I wasn’t very proud and felt like I should do like others, and not go to what you might call ‘avoidance’.

Then came this summer, where the only solution to enjoy some holidays far away was to bring my two lovely dog companions to my mom, in Hungary. 1400 km away. The road there was simple, though intense on the co-driver seat next to my partner.

However for the return I took a big decision: I am going to undertake the road back home with my dogs across the probably 1400 plus kms, since I knew I still wasn’t able to drive on the high traffic Austrian and German highways, but on small roads and side ways. But I DID IT. Not the highways, but the drive. I did it my way, on roads less travelled, always finding a way through. Good thing in our modern age in Europe, there are many roads everywhere, we have GPS , waze, maps and plenty of technology to assist.

But my point is that: I went through a huge challenge activating my biggest fears and survival instincts and I have found my resources to pull through.

First, I HAD to arrive. I gave myself time. I broke down my travel to small bits and pieces , sometimes 50 km pieces of road. I had two wonderful companions, and I could feel in their gaze a mix of worry, trust and encouragement. I met wonderful people, drove across breathtaking landscapes, I nourished by eyes and my soul with beauty. I stopped when needed. I cried when I lost hope and then found hope again. And I arrived. On roads less travelled, doing it my way and ultimately being extremely proud of having undertaken that journey across my vulnerable self and find back my resources, my strength, my grit and perseverance, my capacity to look at life with wondering eyes and ultimately my capacity to explore beauty and create my own solutions. And I learned to look with compassion after that tiny little scared girl inside of me.

I hope my story can inspire you - who read it till the end - ?to dare to find your own ways, even if they are less travelled, or you need to create them, identify your resources, find good company and not give up what makes you feel alive. And remember there is always a way through. With love & care