If life were a highway, I would still look for the footpath, for walking that, I would learn about us, enjoying the extra time to do so.
~ Tom Althouse
Every time in 2020 my daughter and I had a photo outing planned, the virus messed with our plans. No, not that either of us got sick, but because we went into lockdown and the advice was: stay home. So, we did.
I love to be outside with her, to just walk and talk and stop every now and then to take a photo of fungi or flowers, of the sky and the trees, or the footpath ahead. I really have a thing for footpaths, or roads stretching out ahead and disappearing in the distance. I’m sure there’s food for psychologists there.
The lyrics of the song, The Road Ahead by City to City captures the essence of a footpath or road ahead.
Horizon in the distance
So close and yet so far away
You shouldn’t be surprised when on arrival
The dream has flown away
And fears not here to stay
Is that the magic of the footpath, now knowing what lies ahead? Being excited for what you might find, but also a bit scared that you won’t find what you want?
The road ahead never gives away a promise
The road ahead is a highway or a dead end street
Whenever we embark on a journey, whether on a highway, or a footpath; whether a physical journey where we walk or travel somewhere, or a mental one, where we try to make sense of life, we never know what we will find when we arrive. Life takes twist and turns with us, and I believe everything happens for a reason. The good, and the bad. We learn lessons as we travel those roads; lessons that can serve us well when we come to a new road we have to travel.
Raindrops on your windscreen
They fall
From heaven or from hell
You drive into the light
Or into darkness
Uncertainty as your guide
And nothing is sure along the way
Not even tomorrow
With miles of the unknown
Ahead of you
Sometimes we know what will happen, because we have travel the road before. We have walked the same footpath over and over again, so there’s nothing unknown about it. But is this really true? Do we always know what awaits us? Even if you have traveled the road before, you might come across something unexpected the next time you do.
The road ahead is empty
It’s paved
With miles of the unknown
Whatever seems to be your destination
Take life the way it comes
Take life the way it is
That’s just it, isn’t it? We should take life the way it comes; the way it is. Life happens to all of us. Sometimes it’s good, and sometimes it’s bad. We all have our highs and our lows. Life offers us happy times, but also those sad ones, where you feel like you will never be happy again.
We all come out on the other side, whatever seems to be our destination, as the song says. The low times are needed to appreciate the better times, or simply be happy with what we have. It doesn’t always have to be bigger and better. Something what we have is good enough, and it makes us happier to just Take life the way it is than to always want more.
The above are not things I actively think of when I snap a shot of a footpath ahead of me, but subconsciously those thoughts might be present. Like I said… food for psychologists.
A road in the nature reserve Amsterdamse Waterleiding Duinen leading towards the ocean – image from August 2018 
Also in the Amsterdamse Waterleiding Duinen – image from June 2018 
On a lovely day in Clingendael Park, The Hague – image from February 2019 
A lovely footpath on an island in the river that runs through Rotterdam – image from February 2018 
A footpath on the peninsula Rozenburg, from where you can see the container ships entering the harbor – image from May 2019
© Rebel’s Notes
You’re so right Marie. It doesn’t matter the path or how many times we walk it, there will always be new views to take in. Sometimes good, sometimes bad.
Thank you for linking up N xx
Wise words, my friend! xox
You have definitely reminded me of Robert Frost’s poem, taking the unknown path is what many of us do when it comes to our creative outlets. Thank you for sharing some gorgeous pictures as well as the song.
Thank you, Jae. I love that poem – I couldn’t recall it, so looked it up. The unknown path can lead to surprising thing indeed.
Oh this is a lovely post Marie – What wonderful footpath images – I have a few of my own too. And they say you have to meet the demon b4 you can truly understand the angel
May xx
I love that expression, May, and it is so true! Would love to see your images too, like I said, there’s something magical about footpaths ❤ xox
So very true. One of my favorite ideals is to try and take the road less travelled. It leads to some amazing places.
You are absolutely right!
I love this concept so much, I can’t even put it into words 🙂
Aww that made me smile 🙂