Two roads diverged in a wood and I-
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.
Robert Frost
I find that sometimes the best moments in my life are those when I choose to live my life by different boundaries, when I allow myself the freedom to take the road less traveled. This can be a literal road or a symbolic road in my life. I find that when I embrace the idea of traveling new paths, I begin a journey of discovery that enhances my life in invaluable ways. Taking the road less travelled is not always easy, as it can often mean a ride that is a bit bumpier than a nicely paved road. Yet, those bumps on that road can often afford us learning experiences that we are forever grateful for.
I have a very pertinent personal example of taking a different road. When I was a young child (probably 8 or 9) I made a conscious decision that if I were to have children when I was older I wanted to adopt them. Obviously, at that age people assumed it was a phase, that I would eventually change my mind and want to physically have children of my own. They were wrong, I did not change my mind. From the time I was 8 years old I was keenly aware of the plight of the many orphans in this world and I could not fathom bringing another child into this world when there were so many children already out there who needed warm, loving homes. While there is a growing number of families who have chosen adoption as their first choice to grow their families, more often it is considered as a second choice when the option of natural pregnancy and childbirth fails. Adoption is also often a choice in addition to (as opposed to instead of) raising biological children. I have two amazing girls who are both adopted. I believe their presence in my life is a gift that goes far beyond anything I could begin to give them. I cannot imagine loving a biological child any more than I love them – they ARE my children.
In my life, as I created my family, I took the road less traveled, and indeed – it has made all the difference. Others choose to take the road less traveled in many areas of life, be it career, home, or family. I am certain there are many readers out there who have wonderful stories of unconventionality, of originality, of making decisions that others questioned, and ultimately reaping the rewards and benefits of taking that less-travelled path.
Today, 322 days ’til 40, I will continue to walk the road where my heart leads, particularly those less-travelled roads. What a blessing they have been in my life.
I hope that more people in this world will be secure enough in themselves to feel confident taking the less-travelled road when their heart leads them to.
~400daystil40
Fortuitous Forty!!! 
wordsfromanneli
April 5, 2012 at 00:16
That is one of my favourite poems. And this part of it: “I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference,” has always had special meaning for me.
400daystil40
April 5, 2012 at 04:23
Me too! 🙂
Bird
April 5, 2012 at 00:21
Good for you! I admire people who have hearts for the orphans…
400daystil40
April 5, 2012 at 04:23
Thanks, though I must admit, my daughters give me so much more than I give to them – their presence in my life is amazing.
smyln
April 5, 2012 at 22:47
they got beautiful hearts!
Bird
April 6, 2012 at 03:22
I find most children with hard pasts have bigger hearts if you catch them quick enough, before the past hardens them forever.
smyln
April 18, 2012 at 16:44
i concur to that.. i have a soft spot for them. we can do them good before its too late you know
timzauto
April 5, 2012 at 00:41
http://timzauto.wordpress.com/ Very nice .. inspirational…!
400daystil40
April 5, 2012 at 04:22
Thanks.
SkiDaddy
April 5, 2012 at 00:44
A powerful message, my hat is off to you (if I wore hats of course)
Dwayne
400daystil40
April 5, 2012 at 04:22
Thanks!!!
maudestandard
April 5, 2012 at 00:52
One of my favorite sayings is: when a rut becomes deep enough, it becomes a grave.
The people I know around here are in set patterns with blinders on. They take the path of least resistance.
I was reminded that I do take the less traveled road when I looked at other ebooks in my category. Mine is different. I’m as used to it and so it seems run of the mill to me.
It takes a lot to go another way from the rest of the folks. It helps if you can trust yourself and know that you do the right things.
400daystil40
April 5, 2012 at 04:21
Yes, I agree with you – that trust in self is key when you are looking to branch out and take risks. I LOVE the quote you wrote – about a rut becoming a grave! I can think of many people I want to share that with!
knitnkwilt
April 14, 2012 at 20:00
I can’t put a finger on any time I took a road very less traveled, but I am going to ponder the possibility that I did and it has become routine. Interesting reply, maudestandard.
writerwannabe763
April 5, 2012 at 01:02
Sometimes when a conversation is going on and the general theme of it is going one way…which you vehemently disagree with, it is easier to stay quiet or nod your head in what is perceived to be in general agreement with what is being said, than to voice an opposite opinion.
Most of the time if it is a friend (s) or acquaintance one doesn’t want to feel confrontational…but if I definitely believe what they are saying is not only incorrect but possibly racist or judgmental I will engage in a difference of opinion and hope that that person can accept it as just that….not to say that I’m right but to balance some of what is being said.
I believe that is taking the ‘narrow’ road …..so to speak …when possibly you are alone with your opinion and many disagree with you… not quite what you’re referring to but it came to mind.
400daystil40
April 5, 2012 at 04:20
Yes, you bring up such a great point! When you stand up for your beliefs when you are the minority opinion it is most definitely taking the road less traveled – this requires an incredible amount of courage and strength of character.
buckwheatsrisk
April 5, 2012 at 01:11
that’s wonderful! my hats off to you! i feel like we are taking the road less traveled on a constant basis! it has definitely led to some wonderful thing, but also some very difficult and painful things, but that is life, and if we never take a risk we will never know what we are missing!
400daystil40
April 5, 2012 at 04:18
Yes, the road less traveled may bring great beauty and growth our way, but it can come with challenges and mountains to climb (and that is not always easy).
buckwheatsrisk
April 5, 2012 at 04:19
but somehow worth it!
400daystil40
April 5, 2012 at 04:37
but of course! 🙂
jensine
April 5, 2012 at 01:20
And sometimes on those hidden, less walked paths and trails you find undiscovered beauty 🙂
400daystil40
April 5, 2012 at 04:17
Absolutely!
Mayrbayr's Lair
April 5, 2012 at 01:21
Story of my life! I always seem to find the path less chosen … it’s less crowded! LOL!
400daystil40
April 5, 2012 at 04:17
Yes!!! 🙂 I was never a person for crowds myself! 😛
Cathy
April 5, 2012 at 01:23
That quote of Robert Frost hit me. I think I have done this many times, both consciously and subconsciously. It makes things harder, but more rewarding. Loved this post!
400daystil40
April 5, 2012 at 04:10
Thank you!
smyln
April 5, 2012 at 22:31
its worthy taking that journey on that road… at the end you enjoy its rewards
allthingsboys
April 5, 2012 at 01:38
How thought provoking. Sometimes we are on the road less traveled when we didn’t choose it. Then it becomes a life lesson of a different nature. One that teaches us to bend and be open! Thank you for the wonderful thoughts!
400daystil40
April 5, 2012 at 04:16
Very very good point! Yes, we do not always choose the path we are on… yet it can still bring amazing growth! 🙂
modernpioneerfam
April 5, 2012 at 01:57
I enjoyed your post today. And the pictures is beautiful.
My husband and I planned to foster children when we started dating and took classes to do so, even before we got married. We finally recieved our approval as a foster home about 1 month before the wedding. 2 weeks after the approval came back (right before we were to have a set of siblings placed in our home) we found out that my husband’s company was going to move us from Idaho to Texas a few weeks after we were married. We did not end up fostering a that time because we felt it would be cruel to bring children into our home for such a short period of time, have them come to love us, then have to give them back and disrupt their lives once again. We always planned to have both fostered or adopted children and whatever children by birth God saw fit to give us, to have a blended family.
Our firstborn was quite a surprise, in that the child God gave us was a son with special needs. Charles was born with autism (it took us 3 years to realize this and another 2 years to get the Dx working through the school system.) The challenges of raising an autistic child and our other two children born since then (another son, 6 years old and a daughter 7 months old), ultimately encouraged our decision to wait for Charles to be in high school or graduated and mostly on his own before going down that road less traveled again with regard to becoming a foster or adoptive home. Meanwhile we walk many less or untraveled paths in life, raising our special needs child, livng a rural lifestyle, raising goats, poultry, rabbits and service dogs for developmentally disabled kids, while advocating for children with autism and service dog rights.
400daystil40
April 5, 2012 at 04:16
What a wonderful comment, I hope the readers see it. You bring up a very important point – life can change our plans – even our plans to take a different road…. and we need to be open and sensitive to this reality. How wonderful that you were able to see the needs of others (ie: your son) and change your plans accordingly so that you made the best choices…. some parents try to make their kids and life fit into their original plans, no matter what – but life is rarely that cut and dry.
modernpioneerfam
April 5, 2012 at 05:34
Yes, that is exactly right. That sort of “soccer mom” live thru your kids and make them into yourself or what you would have liked to be mentality on the part of others actually got us kicked out of 3 churches because there was no forcing our unique little guy to fix the pre-concieved molds that other people wanted all children to belong inside of. Charles was blessed to be given to 2 parents who always marched to heir own drummer no matter what and to grandparents on my side (I have a brother w/ autism as well) who could appreciate a unique viewpoint, the rest of the grandparents, the aunts, uncles and cousins are all learning as we go to appreciate him exactly as he is. Changes are small with him and that a very long time. Potty training for example took almost 7 years to complete start to finish, and the process so frustrated us as parents at times.
400daystil40
April 5, 2012 at 14:19
Wow, it sounds like your family has been through a lot. So sad how miserable the hands of intolerant people can make us…… Mostly I think it is fear….. They see someone different and realize it could have been them.
modernpioneerfam
April 5, 2012 at 15:52
I know. And having him has changed me in huge ways. I have become a person who advocates for special needs and pays very close attention anything that affects the Disabled American in poliics.
People who rejected him in churches where really stuck on their own personal images. Country Clubbers who would not tolerate anyone less that perfect near them. One of those people now has a nephew w/ autism and I struggle every day not to feel like this woman got what she deserved (unfortunately she treats her sister and nephew quite shabbily too) and pray that her nephew is able to teacher her tolerance and inclusion.
smyln
April 5, 2012 at 22:33
thats so kind of you.. God will bless you abundantly
viveka
April 5, 2012 at 02:07
Have taken the less traveled road quite few times in my life – and it has become interesting,but also uncomfortable – but most of the time I take the highway. Happy Easter!
400daystil40
April 5, 2012 at 04:13
Thanks for the comment that made me smile! 🙂
sahbinahvioletflynn
April 5, 2012 at 02:37
As a child who was adopted I can appreciate the huge, warm loving heart that you have…there is no greater gift in the world than to give a child the immense feeling of being wanted, loved and safe. To belong.
400daystil40
April 5, 2012 at 04:13
Thanks for your kind words. I agree completely! 🙂
David
April 5, 2012 at 02:59
This was so touching…that at 40 you would have the thought…and stick to it….just amazing
400daystil40
April 5, 2012 at 04:12
Ah, but I am not yet 40!!! 😛 I actually made the decision (announcement) that I was going to adopt when I was age 8 or 9. I brought my first daughter home at age 31 and my second daughter home at age 34. 🙂
David
April 5, 2012 at 04:14
🙂 And not yet 40 (the whole concept of the blog lol)
400daystil40
April 5, 2012 at 04:37
Precisely!!! 🙂
terry1954
April 5, 2012 at 03:20
loved it!
400daystil40
April 5, 2012 at 04:11
🙂
becca3416
April 5, 2012 at 16:51
At my age now, I do not yet have a desire to have children, and often think I never will. However, if I were to decide that one day, I would absolutely without a doubt adopt before having a biological child. I find your post very reassuring. Some young people find it an odd notion.
400daystil40
April 6, 2012 at 04:15
It is so true, some young people do find it odd and just cannot understand. Good for you for being so confident in your choice! Stand firm and do not give in to pressure to do something you do not want to do at all (or before you are ready)…. There are too many people procreating because of societal pressure, which is the wrong reason to bring kids into this world.
Gilraen
April 5, 2012 at 19:22
A friend of mine once told me that he thought I had a natural affinity to traveling the road less traveled and that I have trouble understanding why one would choose the well traveled road. I agreed, but also noted that the road being less traveled, still means people did it before me, so that I am not an explorer.
Frost was so right when he said, it made all the difference. And I look back on my life so far; no regrets, so I’ll continue to keep traveling the road less traveled.
400daystil40
April 6, 2012 at 04:16
Me too!!! 🙂
smyln
April 5, 2012 at 22:34
thats so kind of you.. its an awesome feeling!!
antarabesque
April 7, 2012 at 18:49
My favourite poem too. Thank you for sharing and reminding me that I too am on the less travelled road.
400daystil40
April 8, 2012 at 05:20
You are welcome! Thanks so much for your comment!
sued51
April 7, 2012 at 22:03
Good for you!
400daystil40
April 8, 2012 at 05:16
Thank you!!!!
myoldfashionedlife
April 9, 2012 at 16:14
At my church, I work with the 3-6 year olds for Sunday School. In our class we have a little boy that I call Dan the Man. He was adopted by a wonderful family and now has an older brother and a younger brother. He is nonverbal, cannot walk or crawl, and must use diapers. He is about 4 now. He is the most affectionate child, always willing to give hugs and kisses. He is also independent, he will scoot across the floor to select the items he wishes to work with. He loves music time and I think he is awesome. He makes me want to adopt or foster those that society has left behind or given up on. Dan the Man is my hero.
400daystil40
April 9, 2012 at 23:30
Wow, what a wonderful perspective and THANK YOU SO MUCH for sharing this – I hope that the readers will scroll down and read your comment. They have a lot to learn from you – often we forget what a gift children are, including special needs children.