The Road Not Taken
by Robert Frost
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 marked 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.
The Road Now Taken
by KB Bateman
I had been telling myself for ages that I needed to get serious about writing, but life kept throwing obstacles in my way, and there always seemed to be more pressing things to do. I had written occasionally, but it was most often in response to a need, such as writing a poem to help me struggle through the grieving process or writing an educational piece to inform readers. I rarely wrote simply for the joy of writing itself and the satisfaction of seeing my thoughts brought to life.
Over time however, the nagging little writer’s voice in the back of my mind grew louder and more persistent, and eventually I realized it wasn’t going to go away. This was not just a whim, such as when we decide to buy the latest exercise gadget, use it once or twice, then leave it to gather dust in a corner somewhere. The idea of being a writer had planted deep roots in my soul over the years and continually struggled to break free of the constraints that bound it.
When I finally gave myself permission to get started, it was as if someone had opened up the gates of a dam that had been holding back too much water for too long a time. Once I began writing, my thoughts just spilled out at every opportunity, oozing through every cell of my brain, and fighting to take precedence at the keyboard. The challenge became a question of which story to write first rather than whether I should write at all. I felt compelled to get to my computer and start hammering away at the keys every single day. The release of the pressure I had felt for years has been revitalizing. Now I wonder why I resisted the calling for so long.
If a day goes by on occasion without any writing getting done, I feel rather frustrated. When I’m on a roll and can hardly type fast enough to keep up with my thoughts, I sometimes have a tendency to skip eating and sleeping, and the household chores can definitely wait for another day. Although I am reluctant to call my writing an obsession due to the negative associations sometimes attached to that word, it has become something like that in a way. I consider it a healthy fixation though, somewhat like a strong chocolate craving, but without the worry of the calories and fat grams. It just feels so good, so right to be doing it, and I have a lot of catching up to do since I waited so many years to get going.
Just like everyone else, I have lived a life full of unique human experiences, some terribly traumatic, some extremely joyful, and countless others that have fallen somewhere in between. I will share a number of those experiences with my readers as I travel down this new path I have taken. Robert Frost’s words have always resonated deeply with me, particularly his thought-provoking poem, “The Road Not Taken.” I have walked down many different roads in my life, but this writing one seemed to elude me for a long time. I am very glad to say that is no longer the case.
The topics I write about will hopefully fulfill a worthwhile purpose beyond the cathartic role they play for me during the process of writing them. It’s my goal that readers will receive something of value as well, such as a smile or chuckle after a really tough day at work, a comforting feeling that they are not alone in their struggles, a new perspective on a challenging situation, or information that helps someone to have a better life. I’d also like to think that my writings might even inspire others to pick up the pen themselves and take the writer’s path.
I really appreciate it when readers take the time to contact me to share that one of my stories brought back a special memory from their past or brought some happiness to their life. That really makes my day and encourages me to keep on typing no matter how busy I might be. I have always felt a strong obligation to make a difference, and now I have found another way to do that through my writing.
The internet has opened up so many opportunities for us to reach out to others around the world. Although our spelling and punctuation rules may differ somewhat from country to country, messages from the heart still come through loud and clear. Love is love and grief is grief regardless of one’s home language, and we all face similar human struggles as we go through life. Hence, I offer Musings and More and make a promise to myself that now I have finally set out on this journey down the writing road, I will not let anything stand in my way.