The Road Less Travelled

Cheryl Lovstrom, Community Learning Network

0 5 November 2024

To say 2024 has been a whirlwind so far would be a serious understatement. Looking back at the past 10 months, I am reminded of waiting for a prairie freight train to pass. Car after car keeps coming and, just when you think the tracks will clear, you see the rest of them coming around the bend. Every time I have the opportunity to connect with friends and colleagues, I see the same look we all seem to have these days. It’s a look that says, “I’m tired, and I have no idea when this train will pass.” For me, it’s a feeling of being stuck.

But what if the direction we were headed was blocked for a reason? What would happen if we backed away from that crossing and took another road? Could we travel far enough in the other direction that we could clear the tracks and move ahead? What does that even look like? If you’re anything like me, it’s a terrifying thought. “I don’t know that road, what if it’s a dead end? What if it leads me somewhere strange and uncomfortable? What if it doesn’t work out?” All the negative thoughts swirl like a dust devil on an empty field. But what if I don’t take that road? What will I miss?

What is on the road less travelled? Who would I meet along the way? What new things could they teach me? Probably how to step out of my comfort zone, for one. When the fear tries to take hold, it’s always curiosity that brings me back. The curious questions hold the key:

What’s the worst that could happen?

I could run out of gas (read: funds) before I get where I want to go. This is always problematic, but not usually insurmountable. Community partners and creative solutions abound in the CALP world.

I spend a few extra hours on a journey that doesn’t lead to anywhere in particular. But wasn’t it exciting to try something new? What could I learn from the experience? How could I make it better/more relevant for participants next time?

I arrive somewhere new and nobody likes me. But what if they do? The people you meet along the way most certainly help to shape the way you arrive, especially if you’re paying attention to the conversation. Learners have so much to teach us and, if we’re listening, will do much of our planning for us.

What’s the best that could happen?

I find a whole new way to get where I’m going, and it’s a better route! Oh, how often I’ve taken the same, old route to get to my destination, only to find there’s a much more direct (or more scenic, or less busy) way to get there.

The people I meet along the way are really interested in what I’m doing? What if those conversations spark new ideas or generate interest in where you’re headed? That would be really cool!

I spend a few extra hours on a journey that leads to a beautiful, new location. Those little places we didn’t even know existed can become treasured destinations. If we didn’t take the detour, we may never have found their value. That amazing, new program could be just around the corner.

When I focus on the curious questions, I am grateful for the freight train. Or, at least, for the detour it encouraged me to take. Those frustrating, dancing-on-a-wire days that make me want to give it all up are an opportunity to get curious and start asking those questions. “How can I do this differently? What actually is in the other direction? What’s the best that could happen?”

So, what are you waiting for? Take that detour, dodge the train, and find the best that could happen.

Here are a few “detours” to consider: