Detours

We have perhaps come across the familiar scenario: we are heading to our destination, when a detour appears in life. “Hey, I was going that way, what gives?”

Detours are perfect for novels. Our main character goes about their routine when, wham! Something different takes place. The entire story is about them chasing an elusive goal.

We are of course happy when our protagonist is victorious. It can be hard to adjust our perspective in our personal lives when we face detours.

In Alexander McCall Smith’s book, “The Second Worst Restaurant in France,” the main character, Paul Stuart had his plans changed. His location and ambition both changed throughout the book. Of course, in fiction, this is enjoyable when it happens to someone else, and everything turns out for the better.

However, personally, things do not happen so neatly. My location has changed to a place I never saw myself living in. My ambitions have changed, and my career is morphing into something new and exciting. Was it a neat path? No. Did I know what was going to happen along the way? No. If you told me I would be where I am today, when I was in my early 20s, I would not have believed you. This is not the end. The path still bends.

How do you handle life’s detours? Leave a comment below.