Thursday, October 3, 2013

The Road Not Taken . . .

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The Road Not Taken
by Robert Frost

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could 
To where it bent in the undergrowth;

Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I-
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.

This has always been one of my favorite poems.  Essentially, it is all about choices.  To take the safe, predictable path?  Or to take the unbeaten, more uncertain path and hope for the best?

Our lives are full of choices.  We make small ones every day - what to wear, what to eat, how to use our time wisely (or not!).  In life, though, there are plenty of big choices, too, like college, career, marriage, and kids.  Those are the ones that sometimes cause us to stumble on our path.

At the end of that poem though, there is a sense of no regret.  "And that has made all the difference." That turned out to be the right choice.

I can't really say that I have frequently taken the "road less traveled" in my life or that stepping out of the box is something people would/should expect from me.  I can say, however, that I really have no regrets about the choices I have made.  Do I think about the other path occasionally??  Sure.  I might briefly consider what kind of exciting career I might have had or how nice it would be to have a little extra pocket change from time to time.  But, then I look at my surroundings - my husband, my girls - and I know that I am where I am supposed to be.  I know I took the right road.

What are some of the choices that led me here? 

I went to college in what my mom called "a big city."  It doesn't seem so big now, but compared to the small town where I spent the first eighteen years of my life. I guess it was.  However, that was one of only a couple of colleges at the time that offered my chosen major.  It was also the "big city" where I met the guy that would eventually become my husband. 

I got married when I was twenty-one.  A little young?  Perhaps.  Hard decision?  No.  My husband is absolutely my best friend.  He was then and he is now.  Together, we have weathered some storms but we have a strong marriage and we have built a wonderful life with abundant blessings.

I had my first daughter at twenty-five.  Again, a little young??  Maybe.  Motherhood is hard and it is not at all what I expected it to be.  However, eleven years and three daughters later, I wouldn't change a thing.  As they say, it's the hardest job you'll ever love. My heart is full and I wear my motherhood hat with immense pride and joy.  (Although, the hat does get a little crooked from time to time!) 

When my first daughter was born, I became a stay at home mom and have been one since then.  (Yep - it's been over eleven years since I got a paycheck!)  When they were babies, there were days where I felt so isolated and alone.  Even now, there are days when I wonder what my purpose is and what I have really accomplished.  Then, I look at my girls and I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that it was the right decision for me and the right decision for them.  (I totally acknowledge and respect that it is not the right decision for everyone.  No judgement, here, I promise!)

For me, some of the big choices - the ones that should really have been the hardest to make - were actually some of the easiest.  It was these choices that, to me, were crystal clear.  I know the road I chose was the right one for me "and that has made all the difference." 


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This post was written as part of Finish The Sentence Friday  and the prompt was "The hardest choice I've ever made  . . . ."   FTSF is hosted by some wonderful blogging ladies.  Please give them a visit and check out all the other blogs that participate as well!

Stephanie at Mommy, for Real

Kristi at Finding Ninee

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36 comments:

Janine Huldie said...

Lisa, I took the same tack on this post and literally quoted this poem, too, because it was always one of my favorites. I seriously love that we thought so similar on this one and definitely shows great minds think alike!! :) :)

Lisa @ The Golden Spoons said...

Absolutely! :-)

Stephanie Sprenger said...

I love that you and Janine both used this poem- so perfect, and also one of my favorites! Like you, I'm not really an "out of the box" kind of gal. I think there is great value in looking back at the choices we have made in our life, courageous or mundane, that have led us to where we are. So fun to read more of your story!

Kristi Rieger Campbell said...

WOW. You and Janine used the same poem! LOVE that. Great minds :)
I actually had no idea that you were married and a mother at such a young age. (I don't mean that in the jerk way that I'm sure some people have said it to you in the same way they say to me that they didn't know I was so old)
I'd say you answered this perfectly perfect. Hard choices for sure when it comes to career and family and all of that...

Considerer said...

I love, love, love this. So full of optimism and certainty and wonderfulness. What a beautiful story and way of telling it. Super, gorgeous way to be able to respond to this prompt.

Richard Rumple said...

No regrets. What a wonderful way to look at one's life. Stephen Covey once said, "We are but a subtotal of our life as the rest is yet to come." There is always time ahead to vary the path. We just have to decide if we wish to or not. Love your independence. Great job!

The Dose of Reality said...

I love this so much. What beautiful and meaningful words to read to kick off my day! Just fantastic and lovely in every way. <3 --Lisa

Ginnymarie said...

I have always loved this poem! I think when you know your decision is the right one, it is easy to make, and like you say, the right choice is different for everyone. Marriage and motherhood is hard, but it's also wonderful!

Jean said...

After making some "hard decisions" early on and seeing them explode in my face, I've come to believe that sometimes, when the decision is the right one for me (no matter how huge) it's easy because it's right. I thought it was easy to marry my husband because I knew I was making the right choice.

Tamara Bowman said...

Well..you're also a bestselling author now. So yeah! I struggle with a lot of the same things - wondering about a paycheck and a more exciting life, and worrying I'm not contributing to the world. And mostly it's what you said - we have the hardest jobs we'll ever love. And that is a huge contribution - the biggest - making people. Although my last longterm job was in software sales, and..well...that didn't change the world like a teacher or nurse does.
Anyway, to our book and our kids!!

Lisa @ The Golden Spoons said...

Thanks, Stephanie! I tend to be a nostalgic type of gal, so I look back frequently. Sometimes, in the middle of a situation, I wondered if I was on the right path. But, looking back now, I know I was. As they say - hindsight is 20/20! :-)

Lisa @ The Golden Spoons said...

Great minds, indeed! :-) At the time,I didn't even realize I was doing those things "at a young age." I was just doing what felt right. Now, most of my mom friends with same age kids are at least 4 or 5 years older than me. Still wouldn't change it though. :-)

Lisa @ The Golden Spoons said...

Thank you Lizzi! I am very blessed! :-)

Lisa @ The Golden Spoons said...

Thank you Richard! That is an awesome quote!

Lisa @ The Golden Spoons said...

Thanks Lisa!

Lisa @ The Golden Spoons said...

Yes! Everyone has to follow his/her own path & hard but wonderful! Yes!

Lisa @ The Golden Spoons said...

That has definitely been true for me. The big decision were easy because I just knew they were right. Might not always happen that way as I still have half a lifetime ahead of me (I hope!), but I hope I can always follow the path that is right for me.

Lisa @ The Golden Spoons said...

To our book and our kids for sure!!! (Raising my coffee mug and virtually clinking!)

Mary Hill said...

Hi, sounds like a great book. Will be getting a copy. ;)

MamaRabia said...

I love that poem. It sums up life so nicely. LIfe is a big long series of choices. Sometimes we make the right ones, sometimes we make the wrong ones, and sometimes we have to wait a long time to find out.

Michelle Nahom said...

Our journey sounds very similar. I got married at 22 to my high school sweetheart and it's now been 22 years...that doesn't seem possible, but that's the way the numbers add up. I was 28 when I had my first child. I love that poem! I like what Rabia said about life being a series of choices. I wouldn't go back and change any thing...the good or the bad...it's still my life!

Alison said...

I think about it often, the path I've chosen. Even written about it to an extent (about whether I am living my life as 'big' as I'd hoped). At the end of the day, I remind myself of where I am right now. A place where I am happy and content, and I know that the roads I took are the ones meant for me.

Kajol said...

Love that poem. Remember when I first read it and was confused and just pondered upon it for a while until it made sense to me in my own way. I'm only 19 and already the poem relates to me, and probably everyone which is one of the main reasons so many love it!

http://www.kajolpatel.com

Lisa @ The Golden Spoons said...

Thank you Chris!

Lisa @ The Golden Spoons said...

Awesome! You will love it I'm sure!

Lisa @ The Golden Spoons said...

Thanks Rabia! We do have to wait sometimes to find out if our choices were the right ones.

Lisa @ The Golden Spoons said...

I wouldn't want to change anything wither - especially if it would change what I have right now.

Lisa @ The Golden Spoons said...

I have had those moments, Alison, when I think about what "bigger" things I could be doing if I had made different choices. It doesn't take me ling (usually) to remember the blessings I have and be thankful to be right where I am.

Lisa @ The Golden Spoons said...

Thanks! I think it does relate to everyone. Even at 19, you are making some decisions that will impact your life for a long time. When you are my age, I hope you will look back and feel you made the right ones. :-)

Dayngr said...

That's always been one of my favorite poems and I recently introduced it to the kids after they watched @kidpresident reference it in one of his videos {He said "Not cool Robert Frost!"}. They're in 3rd grade but hopefully will grow to love poetry as much as I did.

Karen said...

what a great post...I think you made the right choice...look at all the wonderful things you have done and the blessings you created and raised. If we mothers got paid for what we did, we'd all be billionaires....sighs....

Rachel @TaoOfPoop said...

Your girls are absolutely your greatest accomplishment! Congratulations on picking a course in life, and having no regrets about it! That's awesome!

Lisa @ The Golden Spoons said...

It is a beautiful poem! So cool that you introduced it to the kids!

Lisa @ The Golden Spoons said...

Amen to that Karen!

Lisa @ The Golden Spoons said...

Thanks Rachel!

Contrary Mom said...

Stopping by from the MTMMixer. It sounds like you have a strong appreciation for your life. That's a beautiful thing. Thank you for sharing!

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