At 18, I had my life all figured out until a blood clot caused my stomach to explode. When I woke up from a coma months later, doctors told me I had no stomach anymore. I couldn’t eat or drink, and they didn’t know if I would ever be able to again. That was my first detour. To say the least, it was a very unexpected change. When life changes unexpectedly, we’re forced to question everything we thought we knew about ourselves. Embracing our deviant paths leads us forward into the future. You may not know where your detour is headed, and it may feel terrifying, but that’s okay. Even with wounds that still haven’t healed – and that’s not a metaphor – I’m still on the road. Every little twist and turn has made me who I am. And I like who I am A Detourist learns that no turn is a wrong turn. No matter what, they forge ahead. Even if they were forced onto that new path, they stay open to what they might discover there, like the flowers that make the journey beautiful and meaningful. Sometimes that’s our only choice: forge ahead. A detour is many things. It can be unexpected, a nuisance, difficult, frustrating, and hard to grapple with, but it can also be beautiful. By sharing our stories, we rewrite our own narratives, rediscover our true identities, foster compassionate communities, and become travel partners on these journeys with no straight path. Through this, we gain adaptability and create a positive, empowered attitude toward obstacles, physical or mental struggles, hardships, and trauma. I envision a world where “detours” in life are everyday blessings. Detours force us to explore new opportunities. When we can’t go in the direction we anticipated, we’ve got to switch gears and adapt. We have to resource inner strengths that we never knew we were capable of accessing. When we achieve the “unthinkable”, we discover who we really are. Where will your detour take you today?
Learn how to get involved with #LoveMyDetour here.
