Writings: Full speed ahead…!

You know the old saying by Yogi Berra – “When you come to a fork in the road, take it!”

Seems like a number of people I know are facing that, just now. And you know how it is: Choice A looks good, makes sense, and you’ve taken the first step toward it as you check out Choice B, which suddenly looks pretty good (if it’s grass, it looks greener) and compelling, and then gridlock sets in. Just can’t decide.

Then you begin the first level of overthinking it, add on some guilt from somewhere, think about the money you’ll make or lose, overthink it a little more, figure out who will be mad at you, figure out who would “love it if you did,” and then add one more layer of overthinking & maybe overfeeling…boom! Paralysis.

What to do? Beats me.

But I know what I did, one time.

I had just driven to Oregon from New Orleans, ages ago. I was moving there, and had all my worldly possessions and guitar in my little Dodge Colt. In spite of the long drive, I hadn’t yet settled on whether to go to Eugene or Portland…whether to move to the college town or the big city.

So, I stopped in Ontario, Oregon on the Idaho/Oregon border, got a sandwich, and then carried on down the street out of town, where I found a fork in the road. To the left, Eugene. To the right, Portland.

I pulled over and sat on the side of the road for a full fifteen minutes. Each time I thought I was settled and was going left, I’d hesitate and decide to go right. Then back again. I was was stuck, with my two choices. I couldn’t decide.

I don’t remember being scared of making a wrong choice, or concerned that one town was “worse” than the other. I just couldn’t decide.

Then it hit me what I would do. I’d start the car, check behind me that the coast was clear, then put my foot on the gas and head straight at the double-arrowed sign ahead, with the only rule being that I couldn’t stop or hit the brakes. I would just keep going.

So I floored it, ran right up  to the fork, and pulled left, and ended up in Eugene.

Do I recommend this for you? Beats me. Depends on where you want to go.

But do it full speed, after you head down one fork.

Love it that you’re there. Thanks for swapping your stories with me.

Love you,
Brother Ian