Walking a Chosen Path—or Just Wandering?

Rumi* said, “When you start to walk on the way, the way appears.”

Plans are tidy. Strategies look smart on paper. But here’s the problem. Both are built on what we already know, and life isn’t that predictable.

In my experience, life is mostly improvisation. You can’t see the whole route. You only see the next step. And that step may be different than what you anticipated.

Walking a path means committing to a direction. You are living your values, moving toward a goal, and learning as you go. You know the destination and have a map and plan.

Wandering means staying curious, exploring options, and letting the journey shape you. It may be pure discovery.

It seems that for much of my life, I may have made good choices and detailed plans. I used the word strategy a lot.

Yet, the universe encouraged me to put the plans aside and wander. So, I did.

How about you?

*Rumi was a 13th-century poet.

John Bradley "JJ" Jackson

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