Legs In One Direction, Heart In Another

My Quest to Choreograph a Life of Dual Paths

Ahh, to be late to the duo focus tango! Honestly, it has taken me a lifetime to lace up these shoes.

So dear reader, here’s the scoop — I have decided to steer my life's work in two different directions. And without getting into the juicy details, let me say this: 

I once thought I had the single-track life figured out. But  the universe, in its infinite jest for financial reasons, has decided it was time for me to juggle, versus being singularly focused. 

Taoism whispers in my ear, reminding me that “A good traveler has no fixed plans, and is not intent on arriving” (Lao Tzu). 

So here I am, no longer a mere traveler but an acrobat, soaring between my main work as a book enthusiast and writer and a developing passion that has been bubbling underneath the surface.

Honestly, I feel like a living contradiction—simultaneously in control and wildly flailing—yet somewhere in this chaos, I’ve found a peculiar peace.

Diving into this dual existence was not merely a choice but a revelation. Imagine feeling out of control, hurtling through the sky like a comet torn from its orbit. Yet, there is an assurance that despite the speed, all the pieces of my life are perfectly synced in a cosmic ballet. The anxiety of toggling between two directions has become less about discomfort and more about discovering a rhythm in the dissonance.

Taoist sage Lao Tzu would perhaps chuckle at my predicament, gently reminding me that “When I let go of what I am, I become what I might be.” Thus, by embracing this whirlwind of activities, I’m no longer simply surviving; I’m evolving. 

I’m learning that there is beauty in imbalance, an art to being momentarily out of control. For it’s in these breathless moments that growth spurts forward, unrestrained and vibrant.

In this frenetic shuffle, I’ve stopped choosing “or” and started loving “and.” All of this begs us to ask, “why not be a consultant AND a painter? A parent AND an entrepreneur? A lover of silence AND a creator of chaos”? 

Because each role enhances the other, and their intersections are where the true magic brews. It’s here where the energies that seemed at odds now converse like old friends, each enriching the other with insights and ironies.

One of my favorite Taoist characters, Zhuangzi, with his playful wisdom, might say that I’m finally following the true Way, or Tao, which is but a pathless land. Riding on the back of a transforming butterfly in my dreams, I’ve learned to appreciate the unpredictable currents of air. 

And my Taoist brotha Mencius, ever the optimist about human potential, would likely nod in approval at my pursuit of a heart both “broad and profound” as this journey expands not just my skill set but my spirit.

As I balance on this tightrope, the ancient sages whisper their timeless advice through the rustling leaves of the Dao De Jing and the Zhuangzi. “Embrace simplicity,” hums Lao Tzu. “Reduce selfishness; have few desires.” 

Meanwhile, Zhuangzi spins his tales, urging me to embrace the joy of the uncertain and the beauty of becoming. 

And Mencius, ever practical, would remind me of the inherent goodness and potential in us all to grow, no matter how unorthodox the method.

So, if you find yourself, like me, a late bloomer in the garden of dual paths, worry not. Embrace the swirling, chaotic dance of life. Let the winds of change lift you into the air, knowing you are grounded not by the weight of your burdens, but by the lightness of your being.

As you step into this dance of dichotomies, remember that the journey itself is home. Each step, each misstep, and each moment of airborne suspense is part of the grand choreography scripted by the cosmos. Revel in the imbalance, for it is in these moments that we are most alive, most in tune with the infinite possibilities that the Tao lays before us.

To conclude, heed the pithy wisdom of these ancient minds:

Navigate the vast waters of life with the subtlety of Lao Tzu’s non-action, dance through the dreamscape of Zhuangzi’s freedom, and cultivate the fertile soil of your potential with Mencius’s optimism.

In doing so, you may find that the art of living is not so much in choosing one path over another but in weaving them together into a  vibrant mosaic that captures the full spectrum of experience.

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