I’ve been wrestling with some gut-wrenching career and life decisions. Robert Frost’s poem about the road not taken has never resonated so powerfully with me.
And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.
Way leads on to way. One small step points us in a unique direction– a direction with the potential to determine our destination. Ultimately all we know is the fire that blazes in our hearts, the one that will not be snuffed out regardless the challenges ahead. This is the way of adventure.
It’s easy to equate living adventurously with choosing a glamorous career or even an uncommon community. Adventure is a word that carries the burden of lore– whether slaying dragons, capturing criminals or overcoming great odds.
But I’ve been tripped up by this notion of adventure. The journey does not have to involve airplanes, passports, or life-threatening danger. An adventurer moves in the direction of her calling. She says yes to the right things. She stands up at the right time.
[Tweet “Adventure is saying yes to the right things and standing up at the right time. via @daisylinshih”]
Saying yes and standing up means something unique to each person. Others can point us to it, shake us until we realize it, or encourage us to pursue it, but only we can know what it is. Each step we take can bring us closer toward the adventure for which we were created, or away from it. We can listen to that calling, or we can silence it.
Are you overwhelmed? Let me share a story. A woman named Cherry lives in Ethiopia. Growing up there, she enjoyed the privileges of a stable family and good education. Many women in Ethiopia are not so fortunate, and a growing population find themselves destitute. Left with no other option, these women end up working the streets as prostitutes.
Cherry had compassion for vulnerable women of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, and she decided to start a recovery program for them. She told the story of the day she felt overwhelmed with the desire to change the lives of trafficked women in her country. She mourned the fate of 18,000 women who, at that time, were believed to be in the throes of prostitution. She felt helpless in the face of such numbers.
Don’t worry just yet about the 18,000, someone told her. Just worry about the one right before you. Care for her.
One little step followed by another, and Cherry was on her way to becoming one of the most influential women in Addis Ababa. Adventure did not start with rescuing 18,000 women. It started with responding to one. Just one.
Choose your adventure by taking one step forward. Care for what you have, and eventually you will be given more.
Ahhh you’re teasing us about what the choices are! (Or have you said somewhere and I totally missed it?) In any case, I’m positive that you’ll make the right one because you’re so motivated and inspiring and understand what is important to you. I love this line “An adventurer moves in the direction of her calling.” 🙂
Beautiful! Yes, adventure doesn’t have to mean flying off to a new country or climbing a mountain…adventure is completely personal and unique!
Thanks for reading this, Kiki. We desire so much for the community around us but change happens one person, one step, at a time. <3
Thanks, friend. <3 Thanks for your courage!
Thank you, Kristin. That means so much to me and I really needed that this morning. 🙂 Yesterday I was so moved by what I realized God has been doing in my life all along– it has humbled me, truly. Cheers, sister!
So glad to hear that this resonated with you, friend!
Thank you Emily. That’s exactly right– we don’t have to see the whole staircase to take the first step.
Thank you, Brittany!! You’re exactly right! sometimes that one small step is more difficult than dreaming and pining after a grand vision!
So, so good, Daisy! It’s really easy to get trapped in wanting to know the impact every decision is going to have 10 steps from now, but sometimes all we can do is take one step forward in faith. That is quite a grand adventure when we’re willing to say yes to something good, even when we don’t know where it’s headed. Praying for you in this time of decision making and transition!
Thank you so much, Annie! We idealists get caught up in grand visions, but we can only get there one step (person) at a time.
Hi Caitlin, thank you so much! Yes, there’s definitely the element of enjoyment– even when it’s hard!
Thank you Diana! I appreciate that!
Aw thanks friend. That means a lot to me. 🙂
Hey Jennifer, thank you! Cherry’s recovery program is also an artisan training group, that partners with Noonday Collection! I’ve written about Noonday before– they partner with groups like Cherry’s to create opportunity for vulnerable communities of women by selling handmade jewelry in the US. 🙂 Let me know if you’re interested in any of the pieces that Cherry’s group makes– I can point you to them.
Thanks for sharing this, Daisy. It’s really easy to get lost in the big picture and forget to live in the moment, taking each step as it comes. This was a great post!
I love this. “Care for what you have and you will be given more”. I love the idea of just worrying about one. I get so caught up in the big picture that it’s difficult sometimes! I loved this!
I needed this today Daisy. I let myself get so frustrated with the fact that I cant change people. That I can’t do anything about the crime and the attitude of others in my community. But, perhaps I should listen to Cherry. Perhaps the small things I can do are making a difference in the scheme of things. This is such a beautiful story Daisy!
http://www.accordingtokiki.net
“Adventure is saying yes to the right things and standing up at the right time” – I have been struggling with what my 2016 mantra will be – I think I just found. It is so easy to forget that to get to the “18,000”, you have to start with the “1” – Amazing post. Really resonated with me.
Talk about a post I so like, so thank you
This is beautiful, thank you for sharing! How did you meet Cherry? I’d love to here more about her!
Love your honest insights as always! Especially the line, “An adventurer moves in the direction of her calling.” Thinking of you as you do that very same thing, friend!
xoxo
Kat
I love this! And need this. Thank you!
-|D I A N A|
It can be so overwhelming when you think that you want to live a life that’s “adventurous”. I think being adventurous takes little steps and involves doing what you enjoy. Absolutely love your post!
xx, Caitlin
http://www.wandererandwolf.wordpress.com
It’s very easy to get overwhelmed when we consumed by the bigger picture but you’re right, one step at a time and tackle one day at a time. It helps us focus and move forward. Brilliantly written, Daisy!
Shireen | Reflection of Sanity
“An adventurer moves in the direction of her calling. She says yes to the right things. She stands up at the right time.” SO GOOD. I love this, focusing on the one in front of you. So beautifully said.
Just half an hour I had a conversation about how I often feel helpless and guilty and now your post comes up!
Daisy, this is so on point! Sometimes we need to look away from the big picture to get ourselves started. It’s a series of little steps that make the whole.
One step at a time, love this Daisy!
It is amazing how easy it is for us to focus on ourselves. I feel like the typical American dream only encourages us to stay inward… Jordan’s prayer over the last few years has been for his influence to grow and it’s been amazing to watch the different people who have crossed his path. I wish you well on this new journey for you Daisy.
Well, well said.
Just focus on one small step. <3
You are such an amazing blogger! I love reading your work. This is a great post. Whatever you are struggling with, make sure you take your own advice. I know sometimes that is the hardest thing to do. And also remember that God has got this. Even if you take a “wrong turn”, he still holds you and makes all things grand.
Such a beautiful story to illustrate your point. We can’t all make a massive difference, but we can make a small difference to just one person, and that has a ripple effect, it spurs us on. We never know what one act of kindness can lead to.
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