Day 54: 22.7 miles/1:28
“Sometimes a man meets his destiny on the road he took to avoid it.” ~ “The International (movie)
The first time I heard this line in the movie, I was blown away by it. It is such a powerful statement. Who we are meant to be is, in many cases, unavoidable. That doesn’t mean everyone succeeds in embracing their passion and their purpose. If so, there wouldn’t be as many lost and hurting people in the world as there are.
What this quote means to me is that for those who are enlightened enough to recognize their calling in life or identify the road they need to travel to realize their dreams and goals, the journey is unavoidable. You cannot escape what you know to be your path. You can run, but you cannot hide.
I was thinking about this before my ride today as I was dealing with the pain and disappointment of Brandon’s abrupt disappearance. He had worked through a challenge and had taken all the necessary steps to go down the road he has been avoiding. Suddenly, he is off the grid and off his path. Unfortunately, this part of his journey is inevitable. In order for him to clean up his life and realize his promise –going through rehab and dealing with the courts– are part of the process. The more he fights it, the more likely he will have to deal with some aspects of it on someone else’s terms.
There are aspects of our life that we would rather not deal with. You cannot avoid what you know you need to do or be. Awareness means accountability. Once you recognize your responsibility to be present in some aspect of your life your destiny to engage is unavoidable. Not engaging means not reaching your goal. There are no shortcuts and there are no detours.
I am living proof of this truth. For some time I have been committed to helping others discover and remove the obstacles that exist in their life so they are able to accomplish their goals. However, I wanted to do it on my terms—with ego, without authenticity and with me in control. I didn’t want to do the dirty part — allowing myself to be vulnerable, humble, and sincerely generous. Here I am, living the experience of authenticity and humility in a very real, life altering way.
This is the most important part of my journey and it was always my destiny. I discovered what I knew to be important in a way that has enriched my life. And, it is an aspect of the growth curve that I spent a lifetime avoiding because I was determined I could and because I knew how hard it would be. Now that I have embraced the destiny of this journey, my ability to live my passion and purpose has been enhanced significantly. Now, I am able to be the person I was always destined to be.
Once you are aware of the path of your destiny, avoiding it only assures that you will face somewhere else. Move forward with confidence and commitment; embrace your purpose and your passion. The journey is not always easy, but it is unavoidable and rewarding.
