Off Road
Iâve been feeling a little flustered and unorganised lately. Sometimes Iâm so on top of my workload, Iâm productive, Iâm smart, Iâm a go-getter and an achiever!! (At the very least, in my own mind) Other times itâs like the organisational part of my brain goes on strike. I wake up and almost immediately, Iâm bombarded by a flood of un-noted tasks and âto-doâsâ that Iâm too tired to work out how to prioritise.
This morning I needed to take a trip to the bank so I decided to walk there rather than drive, to give myself a moment to breathe and get some clear thinking space before going into my working day and it turned out to be a revelatory experience.
To get to the bank there are 2 ways I can walk. If I go down the road I can take the route along the main road or if I go up the road I can go along the slightly quieter main road and through the park. Itâs always an easy choice for me, I like a bit of green so I went through the park.
I had more than enough things to do today but I decided to take my time, not rush and just enjoy the scenery. I saw all the morning people doing their exercising, picnicking, dog walking and people watching. I took in the rich greenery of the trees and grass and I realised as I walked further into the park, the noise of the traffic outside slowly dimmed and gave way to the gentler sound of birds chirping. It felt peaceful, even relaxing and for while it was like I wasnât in the city anymore and my thoughts werenât on my lengthy to-do list but on life, God and things that make me feel peaceful.
Itâs literally just a regular walk through the park but it suddenly became a bit symbolic. Iâm in this place that is helping me to stay calm and gather my thoughts. Just outside of that calm space though, there are people moving fast, impatient drivers, horns blowing, everyoneâs trying to get somewhere, do something, rushing, panicking, on the move, on a mission. I knew in that moment that when I took my first step back onto that main road outside of the park, I would become part of that madness again. Iâll be forced to keep up with the expected pace to avoid being trampled by everyone else.
Donât you think thatâs a bit like life? Weâre always encouraged to stay on the road, aim to become the biggest and fastest rat in the ârat raceâ, build your empire, climb the social/career ladder, be recognised and make that money, and maybe weâre doing a good job of it, but in truth weâre wearing ourselves down to nothing.Â
Weâre outwardly âsuccessfulâ but inwardly weâre not doing that well. Weâre respected for our achievements but have poor character, weâre getting things done but our health and relationships suffer. I donât think the constant grind and hustle is supposed to be the sum total of our lives. Every now and then for the sake of our sanity and quality of life, we need to walk âoff roadâ and go slowly, catch our breath and be removed from the noise and constant demands of life and people. If we donât, when will ever be able to work out where we are, develop our character (outside of developing our social standing) and renew our thinking? Iâm reminded today that itâs in a place of calm and rest that our brain has the best chance of processing life.
Iâm going to try and do morning walks more often just to remind myself of this and to reset myself. Iâd encourage you to find your âoff roadâ experience too. Weâre not machines, weâre humans and sometimes humans just need calm and care.










