Inner compass

“Pay close attention to your inner compass. If you stop steering by your own compass, you’ll hit a rumble strip. Don’t panic. Just question your assumptions and you’ll be back on the road in no time.” ~Martha Beck

We humans are creatures of habit. We often follow the traditional routes mapped out by others — and find safety and comfort in doing so. Likewise, as kids, we’re taught to respect “authority” in all its guises, including our parents, school teachers, pastors, priests, and police officers. We assumed they were always right, always acting on our behalf — and we were reprimanded for doubting or disobeying them.

I like to think I’ve made my own choices, especially as I matured …. But have I, really? While I have few regrets, I wonder if I’ve followed my inner compass or the map that my culture/family/education suggested or dictated for me. At the very least, I’m still questioning some of my old assumptions. How about you? ~CL