dead end

I learn by analogies and object lessons. If I need to learn something, I am generally more apt to be receptive to it if I am told using an analogy and/or an object lesson. Blunt and to the point usually turns me away from the idea or concept all together, because for some reason or another, it's too overwhelming. (My brain just doesn't work that way, and my emotions don't like it!)

Yesterday I was driving home from work in Salt Lake, and Travis was working in Draper. I knew he hadn't eaten all day, so I decided to bring him some food and eat with him. I had missed his exit, and ended up a few miles away. I was near a Quizno's, (which ended up being what Trav wanted anyway,) so I got the food, and was on my way to meet him.

I didn't want to take the freeway because it was pretty busy (right around rush hour), so I decided to take a frontage (back road) to his office.

I was on a path I had never been before.

I was sure of the general direction in which I wanted to go.

My goal (being with Travis) was my motivation to get me there.

As I was driving along the very windy and bumpy road, I saw a sign that said, "DEAD END." I had just looked up at that moment to see it. (I was looking down at my food because the drinks were spilling, due to the twisty and bumpy path).

If I hadn't looked up right at that moment, I would have missed it, and continued driving straight, instead of making a VERY sharp left turn to go where I wanted/needed to be.

I was able to make the turn in time, and I found my way to Travis.

I hope you can see the symbolism in this little story, as insignificant as it may seem to you. At the time, it didn't seem too important, because I could have turned around, and everything still would have been fine.

But what if??

If I continued driving, arrived at the dead end, and turned around, would I have been the car to get hit by the person running the red light? Would the timing have been just so... that I would have hit a pedestrian crossing the road?

It's quite possible that a ton of things may have gone wrong, or that nothing would have happened if I hadn't seen that "dead end" sign.

As I ponder this experience, I can't help but wish I had those same types of warnings in the past. Why didn't I see the "Dead End" sign in past relationships (ex-boyfriends, etc)? I might have saved myself so much trouble, heartache and even regret, had I noticed those signs. Maybe the signs were there all along, but had I heeded them, would I have arrived at the same destination?

Don't get me wrong, I am sooo grateful for the past experiences I've had, because they make me who I am today. But if I had seen those dead end signs, (or even detour signs)... would I be an even better person? I truly think: yes.

Among the many resolutions I have for this year (in many arenas of my life, as a person and as a spouse)... I've decided that my main goal is this:

Keep my head up.

I mean this in two ways:
1. Keep a positive attitude and not get too "down" on myself or others, and
2. Be more aware of what's taking place around me.... look for those signs, and heed them.

2009 was a great year. This year will be even better.