“Follow the yellow brick road.” The line from the famous Wizard of Oz isn’t new to most of us, but I think the way we view it changes throughout our life. As a child, when I first heard or read that line, I was so relieved for young Dorothy that her journey seemed so easy. Was it really so simple? Just follow the magical path that appeared at your feet even after being swept away by a tornado?
Don’t get me started on the “obstacles” she faced on the way there. Even as a child, I knew how ridiculous it was that everyone she met along that road ended up being her friend and accompanying her on the journey to the Emerald City, but it truly does show the difference of how our ways of thinking change as we grow and mature.
You see, I believe as children we are all waiting to find our yellow brick road. The path we take shows us how to proceed forward and accomplish our goals, and growing up is realizing that the one magical road to take to get there is nonexistent, but the journey is how we pave our own road.
In real life, I imagine each yellow brick road is full of twists, turns, smooth stretches and unexpected bumps. The journey down it requires perseverance, direction and the ability to adapt to changing conditions.
At the beginning of our journey, the road is often wide and well-paved, just as childhood is often filled with a sense of wonder and possibility. We start with a sense of security, with the boundaries and guidance provided by family, teachers and guardians. These early stages represent the straight, predictable stretches of the road, where the path ahead is clear and the risks are minimal.
As we grow older, the road becomes more complex. Adolescence and early adulthood can be compared to reaching a crossroads, where decisions about education, career and relationships begin to shape the route we take. At these intersections, the choices we make can dramatically affect the direction our lives follow. Some roads may lead to instant opportunities and success, while others may lead us in a direction we never anticipated.
Like a road, life can be unpredictable. There are times when we encounter obstacles – potholes, rough patches or even dead ends. These represent the challenges, failures and losses everyone faces. Just as a traveler must navigate through rough terrain or find an alternative route, in life we must develop resilience and problem-solving skills to overcome adversity. It’s not always easy, but these difficult parts of the journey often lead to growth and personal development.
At this point, you may be asking, "So where does the yellow brick road come in? If life is more like driving down the road, then how do we know we are on the right path?"
We don’t. I think that's the beauty in it. Our yellow brick road is the path we leave behind us, not the path guiding us forward.
No matter where we are on our road, how far we’ve traveled, or how many “missed” turns we passed, each of our lives leaves a wonderfully thrilling and unique tale. At the end of it, we can only hope it provides those who come across our path with some semblance of direction on their own journey.
