Taking the Squiggly Way
Navigating life's twists and turns without losing your mind
When Isaac was a baby, the kid would not go to sleep. We stuck to a schedule, we had a routine, we followed all the sleep advice. No luck. The only way we could get the little guy to nod off would be to push him around in his stroller or to take him for a car ride.
Unfortunately, baby boy got his momma’s brain. He quickly learned we were tricking him into falling asleep when we’d strap him into his car seat at night. He also got his sense of navigation from his mom. Whenever we didn’t take the right turns to get to our house, Isaac would immediately flip. He knew we were going in the wrong direction.
One such time when we were driving, Isaac got very angry with me for not turning toward our road. “Straight home!” he roared from the back seat. He didn’t appreciate it when I told him that we were going home…“We’re just taking the squiggly way.”
From then on, whenever I didn’t make the right turn, Isaac would cry out “No! No Squiggly!”
I’ve never been known to have lots of patience. I’ve always wanted to get to the next destination in my life as fast as possible… get through college, get married, have kids, get to the next milestone in my career, and on and on. Always rushing toward the next phase.
I’ve come to realize I’ve spent years hurrying my life away.
Life isn’t linear. It’s full of ups and downs, excitement and disappointments. Sometimes you’re so busy you feel like you can’t breathe. And sometimes you’re so bored you feel like you’re going to lose your mind.
With any luck, age brings wisdom. You learn the squiggly-ness in life isn't something to be scorned. It's something to be savored. It has taken me years to realize that the detours aren't interruptions. They're what the trip is all about.
I still get a little impatient with life. But, in those moments, I remind myself that we’re just taking the squiggly way home.