Take Your Own Path

However quirky it may be, make it your own, and don’t look back

I once had a high-school student who motorized a La-Z-Boy recliner and rode it around campus. I’ll never forget the sight of him in that red leather chair, humming along between the classroom buildings.

The school where I worked looked like a ski lodge. The campus consisted of small wooden buildings with outdoor decks connecting the classrooms. On a sunny day, it was lovely. In the rain, it was a soggy mess.

Between the buildings were beautifully landscaped paths. And that is where my student drove his red leather chair.

He didn’t have a larger-than-life, flashy personality. In class he was quiet, unassuming, and hard-working. When he met with me during office hours, our conversations were always to the point, about math and studying.

But, like all people he had many layers. He was an interesting onion. You peel back the outer layers, and you find surprises inside.

When I first saw him in his red chair, I stopped what I was doing and stared, completely riveted. What an unexpected and delightful expression of his creativity and engineering skills! Ingenious, with a little whimsy on the side.

And, that’s the thing of it. We all have interesting, quirky passions that we may or may not pursue. Sometimes we don’t give those interests an outlet because we’re busy, or because they aren’t “practical”.

But, when we do follow our weirdness to where it may lead, we go on a delightful journey. And, life becomes incalculably more interesting and fun. For us, and for those around us.

That’s the wonderful thing about people. We are all weird in our own different ways. It’s the collection and diversity of this weirdness that makes humanity an endless source of fascination and beauty.

Sometimes, when people follow a passion, it leads to entertainment. Sometimes, it leads to their life’s work.

But, wherever it leads may not be the point. It’s really about the simple pleasure of doing something you love. Would you ever look back with regret and say you wished you had spent less time doing things you enjoy? I think not.

There is no perfect time to start. There will always be reasons to put it off. Don’t.

Go do it. Whatever it may be. You might find yourself knitting hats for cats. You might find poetic inspiration by roaming the woods. Or, you might convert your garage to a pottery studio. The possibilities are endless.

“Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?” — Mary Oliver, The Summer Day