Taking a Different Path

In line with my habitual nature, I do not usually deviate from the routes that I take to get to and from places I frequent.  I figure it’s what I am used to and the paths that I take are the easiest and best ways to get from place to place. Recently at a park playdate with some friends, on our way out of the park parking lot I was behind the car of one of our friends.  I knew that the mom was driving her kids to a lesson that was in the same direction as where we lived, so I followed her out. Then I realized when we got to the light that she was going to go straight and down the hill, while I always turned right and then left to get to the bottom of the hill.  Our home and neighborhood is at the bottom of a residential hill. I ended up following the car in front of me that day and took a different path to get home. My kids realized right away that this wasn’t the usual path and asked me right away where we were going. I told them we are going home but just a different way.  They didn’t understand why I would do this, but I explained I wanted to see what it was like and maybe it was a better way.

Lo and behold I rather liked this different route to get home.  It made more sense, I felt like I was going with the flow of traffic and it was more scenic and less jerky than my usual path.  It was almost more peaceful of a drive. This new route has now become my favorite way to get home when I am coming from that particular direction.  I am not sure if it saves me any time but it just makes me happier, so I do it. I am so glad that I tried out this different path that day, it allowed me to change things up and make a little tweak to my life that changes my perspective and view on our surroundings.  I am going to try to do this more often and see where it leads me.