The Fork In The Road

I wrote this before my divorce, can you tell??

They say you’re only one decision away from a completely different life. One choice. That’s all it takes to change everything—no pressure, right? You can go left, you can go right, and both roads lead somewhere entirely different. Some call it fate. I call it Tuesday.

Right now, I'm standing at that infamous fork in the road. I can see both paths stretching out in front of me, each lined with possibilities, potholes, and probably some character development. A tough time makes for resilience and has given me a dark sense of humor. I wouldn't have a personality if life had been easy. 

One of the paths in front of me promises to please the crowd, cheers, applause, maybe a polite golf clap. The other? It’s the one that speaks to me, the one that feels like it might crush my soul but I know holds my brightest future.

I can practically hear you shouting, “Take the road that makes you happy! Be selfish! You deserve it!” And listen, I agree. I do deserve it. But here’s the catch: this decision doesn’t just affect me. The ripple effect of my decision will affect people I love, people I worry about, people who would be hit by the aftershocks of whatever I choose. That’s the hard part. And yet, deep down, I know this much: I’ll be okay. No matter which direction I go, I’ll find my way. It might not be pretty, and it might take a few wrong turns and emotional pit stops, but I’ll be alright.

There will always be people who think they know what’s best for you. They'll offer advice dressed up as concern, push their own agenda, and talk like they’ve read your soul's user manual. Newsflash: they haven’t. Kindly ignore those people. Seriously—ignore them. They might mean well, but they don’t get a vote. You are the only one who truly knows what’s right for you. And if you don’t know yet? That’s fine too. Take your time. Time is not your enemy.

Rushing won’t bring clarity, just anxiety pretending to be urgency. You’ll know when it’s right. That knowing will come quietly, like a whisper, not a shout. And that’s enough. Or perhaps it does shout at you. Maybe you need a kick up the bum to get you moving.

People will judge you no matter what. That’s just human nature. So, pour yourself a drink (beer, tea, kombucha, whatever helps you think), sit under that metaphorical or literal tree, and take your sweet time. When you're ready, make your move. And when someone inevitably throws a tantrum because your decision didn’t cater to their expectations? Smile sweetly, raise your middle finger like it’s a glass of champagne, and toast to your damn self. They’ll get over it. You’ll move forward. And the road you choose? It’ll become yours. Because at the end of the day, it’s not about choosing the right path. It’s about choosing your path.