The Vehicle

Or: How I Stopped Taking Everything Personally

For a long time, I thought other people would show me the way. Or block it.

When someone showed resistance, I felt attacked. When someone showed understanding, I felt validated. My companion was constantly busy interpreting the actions of other companions.

Something new is happening today. I see the mountain trail. I see the thermals. And I stay on my path.

*

Peter heads straight for the mountain. Petra gains altitude by flying in wide circles.

And me? At some point, I stopped trying to control others. I learned to trust my own compass—my heart, my body, and my sense of timing.

I used to want to share every new idea right away. Now I ask my body: Is it time? Or does it need more time to develop?

I've learned that not every idea has to change the world right away. Some seeds only grow in the dark. Some adventures begin long before anyone else even knows about them.

*

And sometimes, true freedom means letting other people find their own path to the summit. Not because they’re against me, but because they’re steering their own vehicle.

The mountain trail. The thermals. And my path. Three different ways to travel. Three different ways to embark on an adventure.

And sometimes, many hours later, we all stand on the same summit and gaze out at the same vast expanse.