We drink champagne.

Today (which is to say, yesterday) was a day of tests, which also means that yesterday (which is to say, today) was a tremendous day for cause and effect. 

If you read my previous post, you’ll understand why it was probably a good thing for me to have a reason to leave my house, let alone my bed (for I slept poorly and had mixed dreams). I tried to operate with kindness all day and to be helpful, but my sparkle had severely diminished (I cried in the parking garage, in the elevator, rounding the corner on my block, pulling the clothing racks outside, etc. etc.) and I could only take comfort in the bright red pants I chose to wear (today was the 4th of July) and the fact that my hair was very thick and curly, which I happen to like.

The first test came when I opened the shop doors and people began to come inside and look around. Be kind, not fake was my directive. And generally, people don’t notice the little nuances that manifest in our own internal landscapes, even if we feel they are undeniably obvious on the outside—as obvious as a newly shaved head or black lipstick. I therefore skated by without having to tell anyone why I was acting so glum, because nobody noticed my glumness, which is fine.

The second test came later, after mastering the first.

Now, providing play-by-play’s of romantic happenings doesn’t really fit this blog (I’m not Carrie Bradshaw), though I tend to prefer specific examples over vague ones.

But in terms of what happened today, and how I was tested, I’ll only say that I suddenly had a choice to make which directly related to my more recent romantic past and a disappointing ending that had occurred there.

And when I looked at it—really looked at the opportunity that had been placed before me—I became aware, almost suddenly, of how many times this EXACT same choice-point had met me on the crossroads of my life.

But, how could this be??

How could I have kept on making the same choice, over and over, and not see that in so doing I was foiling my own chances at success, not only in love but in life as I know it?

How could I be so stupid??

I’m not stupid, of course. I just couldn’t see that I was making the wrong decision because the right decision follows the “road less traveled.”

There’s no map or key for the road less traveled, nor are there any illuminating indentations in the grass or encouraging little wooden arrows to guide the way. It curves a lot, so that you can’t even gaze down its length and get a sense of the terrain ahead; it’s a bonafide mixed bag of mystery.

The well-traveled road, however, has not only recently been paved, it even has u-pick wildflowers and tented kiosks where they serve you champagne in little plastic to-go cups. 

That’s why I always said “yes” to that road and “no” to the other. Because of the warm and fuzzies, and the fear of having to go without champagne for God knows how long.

But here’s the thing that really came forward for me, standing at this crossroads, looking at this inciting incident-of-a-text on my cell phone, the wind blowing my cape like the Hero that we are in each of our own stories: 

The lesser traveled road is actually tailored for YOU.

We don't talk about this often enough, but when you choose the higher way—the way that makes it feel like you’re going downriver from everyone else, which really sucks—you give a signal to the Creator that you’re ready for the really good stuff.

The stuff that’s been lined up, just for you.

Not someone’s hand-me-down’s or rejected picks. Not someone’s fail safe or afterthought, but the real f*cking deal…

And you thought champagne in a plastic cup was good.