A seasonal breeze blows across the harsh and rugged pine forest, unsettling leaves and loose twigs in the upper reaches of the slender pine trees. Tall and ancient the forest stood, swaying softly in harmony with the slow trickle of the nearby stream. A well-worn red and narrow footpath trodden in by explorers, dreamers and travellers had no doubt developed into almost a guide of sorts. Snaking safely through dark ravines and mossy rock archways, holding their hands carefully to pass through unscathed, safely past danger and safely past the incredible sights to behold hidden under the forests protective cover.
From the outset of our lives, we quickly learn to navigate efficiently through our choices, intuitively defining a series of parameters to guide and comfort. Settings to give direction during the transition from one period to the next spurned-on only by our thoughts, dreams and imaginations. Efficient and clinical, a narrowed focus soon stokes the thoughts into fiery plans of action, and we find ourselves edging ever closer to the initial idea burgeoning into fully fledged fruition.
Bestowed upon us almost magnetically without any logic or rationale are the ideas of what our unique parameters should be, perhaps by our environment, family and social groups. These forces steadily shape and mould us into a crafted being by design from an early age. Religious, ideological, and educational guidance is often provided in the form of benchmarks and expectations, set by those closest to us, for us to adhere to or fail. Pressures so enormous collapsing the essence of imagination and freedom as individuals, we travel the well-worn path begrudgingly without eagerness or joy, carrying the burden of what must be done to appease what is thought to be right.
In a stark and apparent contrast, lack of any guidance or parameters from the beginning, causes a cascading event storm to brew violently. A storm which has been born out of a series of poor decisions and their subsequent consequences, repeating time and time again by those less fortunate not to have a support network. A storm which could have been easily steered clear if some experienced individuals were nearby to offer a warning, solution and safe passage.
But alas, a winding path reaches forward through our lives, with hidden corners and crests always presenting themselves a few steps ahead. As we amble forwards navigating our way, some of us have found they have valuable backpacks bursting at the seams with detailed maps of pitfalls and traps. Others, from more humble beginnings, may not even possess a pack at all. Indeed, for either party, it is the path less travelled that might be worth exploring the most, away from expectation and bias. An extraordinary trail where you can fully imagine, bring to life and explore yourself the direction and the outcome. Find yourself wandering beyond the next clearing or across a new stream that your friends haven’t even known about – as the most beautiful flowers cannot grow out of a footpath. Dictate your terms through the dense and sometimes malevolent forest, let it reveal the most powerful, untouched and unique sights to behold; an essence of exceptionality is only adding to what is now yours, what is now special.