Candi’s Tip of the Day: Taking the road less traveled.

 The Road Not Taken   

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth.

Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same.

And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I–
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.

Robert Frost

Motivation for a new road to travel

In 1980 I hand made my own graduating announcements from Ferrum College. On the front was the Ferrum College Seal and this quote from Robert Frost’s poem The Road Not Taken. 

 ”Two roads diverged in wood and I- I  took the one less traveled by and that has made all the difference”.

As life continues to unfold I continually find myself traveling a road that is less traveled.  It is full of brush, leaves, darkness, bumps, pot holes, fairies,  princes, light and mainly adventure.  I never seem to find the road that is lighted brightly, worn by many travelers and picked of it’s flowers on the road side to be of interest to me.  I love choosing the road that is unexplored.  In making that choice I always find myself meeting the most interesting people and learning about who I am as a person. 

Ordinary is not for me.  As I traveled to work today on this 30th of October I found myself enjoying the lovely fall colors of the trees.  On the road coming from my home one tree stood out on the tree lined street.  It was bright red.  Funny how all the other maples were yellow and green and this tree stood majestically out in it’s own beauty.  I thought if I were to enjoy a picnic lunch it would be under that tree.

Today I chose to spend my lunch time in The Gallery Restaurant having a beautiful lunch by myself since it was raining out.  I am making some business decisions that will take me down a new road.  One that needs some quiet time to reflect.   As I began to challenge myself  to once again venture my planning into new unexplored territory I found fear wanting to creep in thinking “who will help me get to my desires?”.  How will all of my new planning be placed  to work together for a not so ordinary result of success? I finally decided to sit back and bask in the beauty of my ladies lunch.  As I was enjoying the tomato bisque soup with cheese puff topper I heard laughter from the other side of the room.  I continued to hear it as my china plate emptied and the thoughts of success with clients who have taken a road less traveled for themselves have graced my road less traveled adventure.  The Irina’s, the Kristie’s and the Jason’s of my world.  Their success has been my joy and has made me forget the pot holes and bumps along the way.

As I pondered my future and planned my client David’s 4:00 leg workout I ended my lunch with a small slice of red velvet cake that was the same cake my husband Jim and I had enjoyed on our wedding day just 8 months earlier made by our wonderful pastry chef here at the hotel.  Again, more laughter.  My curiosity continued to get the best of me and I ventured around the corner to see who was making all of this laughter I was missing. To my surprise I found 4 lovely women completely decorated from head to toe with a table full of lights, decorations and delightful food and candy for Halloween!  I had to go and find out what was going on and “who” were they!  I found myself learning each of their names and finding out they had been doing this type of fun outing for the last 4 years for most holiday’s.  Wow, I wanted in on this!  So, I asked if I could join their next adventure!  They stood out in the crowded restaurant even though I could not see them at first.  Their laughter attracted me.

 You see you must have your ears on when you are traveling down the road less traveled.  You must stay aware and open for what is just around the corner!  You may think the future looks grim but you will be surprised to find that awaiting you is the trophy you have longed for or the fun ladies adding  joy and laughter to your life that you have needed for a long time.

Be not afraid.  If you are exploring the thoughts of traveling down a new and different  road go get on it and start pushing through the brush!  I promise you will encounter monsters and darkness but God will send you the angles along the way to guide you to the ladies awaiting in Halloween costumes with great laughter to enjoy!  I look forward to sharing my new  NaturalBody Personal Training business as it develops on it’s new road less traveled for 2010 and hearing from you as you go down yours!

In good health through a NaturalBody,  Candi Acuff

Please share in comments as you make your plans and share your desires! NaturalBody wants to hear from you!