The Road Less Taken
“Two roads diverged in a wood, and I, I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference.”
Robert Frost, The Road Not Taken
In the heart of every person is that secret desire to be great or to do great things. That desire may be the merest flicker, yet it is there. But how does one measure greatness? And how does one become great?
Today, many equate greatness with fame, fortune and power. Viewed this way, greatness tempts a person to prioritize himself over others as he makes his way to the top. When he succumbs to the temptation, he usually finds himself fighting for the coveted prize, the ultimate honor, the highest paying job or that enviable position with little regard for others or for the cost.
But this brand of greatness usually succeeds only in feeding one’s greed and ego. The insatiable desire to win or to excel in this way has resulted in power struggles, discontent, inequitable distribution of wealth, and misery in the lives of many. Unfortunately, a person lost in the race to reach the top often fails to see this truth. Most times, the awareness and the accompanying regret come close to or at his journey’s end. By then, it is almost too late to shift gear or make a detour. And all he can do is ask why he still feels empty despite all the fame, fortune and power. Surely then, there must be another path to greatness.
What is this path? It is the one most often missed and overlooked because it is hidden by dense undergrowth. Few follow this path because it demands much from the traveler. To take it is to turn away from the world’s definition of greatness and to look deep inside himself where his best self and his uniqueness lay buried. The path will dare him to bring them forth. It will challenge him to speak his truth and honor his passion regardless of rewards and of others’ expectations and approval. It will invite him to embrace and learn from both success and failure as he stumbles, rises, falls, and starts over again. It will move him to savor the journey even as he locks his eyes on his destination. It will prod him to give back to that part of his world what it has been so kind to give him. Finally, it will let him shine, but only so that others may share and bask in his light.
How does the traveler find this path? It will reveal itself to him the moment he begins to ask what will make him more loving, more human, more true to himself. What fulfills him and gives the most meaning to his life and the lives of those around him? What makes him laugh and brings him deep joy amidst his struggles? What leaves him speechless with gratitude for all that he has? What opens his heart to the less fortunate and moves him to make their lives a little better? What empowers him and fills his life with love, faith, hope, charity and humility? The day he finds his answers is the day he finds that path. And the day he cares more about enriching the lives of those around him by his presence is the day he need not dwell on being great. For he already is.