the road less traveled

“The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.” — Lao Tzu

Coming soon:

June 6. First Friday Freewriting Workshop // 7 - 8 pm et

Weekly Story Work Exercise

Photo by Patrick Fore on Unsplash

Going against the grain doesn’t have to start with a radical life-changing leap. It can begin quietly, with a single step toward the road less traveled.

For me, that step was writing. Creative expression in all its forms is an invitation to the road less traveled.

No matter where you are in your creative journey, whether you're new to it or you’ve been exploring for a while, you can trust that self- inquiry will provide some light as you stumble on your way.

Ask yourself questions like:

What am I being called to try? Why and how am I holding back? What do I want to get out of this? What do I want to give? How can I lean in more?

When I was lost and searching for a way back to myself, writing became this multi-faceted force, taking on whatever role I needed in the moment.

A lantern, a companion, a teacher, a guide. It gave me the support I needed to carve out a lane that I never knew existed.

I encourage you to think of writing this way, not just a craft to be critiqued, but a practice to be nurtured, a force to be harnessed. A way of coming home to yourself.

For years, there was a clear, well-traveled road ahead of me that involved continuing the silence and safety of not being seen. After walking that road for years, I came across a different path that I knew nothing about. One that involved taking up space, speaking my truth, asking my questions, joining the conversation. And although I was scared and unsure, that’s the path I chose.

Taking the road less traveled, the one that offers no guarantees but inspires you, isn’t just about angst or rebellion. It’s about purpose. It’s about listening to the voice of truth inside of you and following it, even when it’s inconvenient and uncomfortable.

Some self-consciousness is inevitable. But I will tell you this—most of the things that once made me self-conscious are things that I now draw strength from. This is thanks to the road less traveled.

I used to worry endlessly about how I wrote, how I talked, how I said things, how I was being perceived. I obsessed about becoming a better writer and speaker, and I was afraid of my imperfect thoughts being seen. But eventually, what I had to say mattered more to me than how I said it. My mantra became: Courage first, craft second.

I learned that there is no single way to be a writer, storyteller, artist, advocate, or entrepreneur. We each carry our own inner compass.

We don’t need permission to do things differently, but we do need conviction.

Conviction is an open but unwavering belief, rooted in alignment, such that even when the world around you questions or misunderstands your decisions you stay on the path.

What is that conviction made of?

There’s no one-size-fits-all answer. The essentials are as unique as we are. Personally, I believe we need purpose, courage, love, faith…and another virtue that arises for me is wonder.

Wonder helps us reclaim our attention. Wonder lures us into gratitude and makes our abundance visible. It awakens our senses and reminds us that we are vibrating with life and life is a miracle.

It asks questions like: