| TWO roads diverged in a yellow wood, | |
| And sorry I could not travel both | |
| And be one traveler, long I stood | |
| And looked down one as far as I could | |
| To where it bent in the undergrowth; | |
| Then took the other, as just as fair, | |
| And having perhaps the better claim | |
| Because it was grassy and wanted wear; | |
| Though as for that, the passing there | |
| Had worn them really about the same, | |
| And both that morning equally lay | |
| In leaves no step had trodden black. | |
| Oh, I marked the first for another day! | |
| Yet knowing how way leads on to way | |
| I doubted if I should ever come back. | |
| I shall be telling this with a sigh | |
| Somewhere ages and ages hence: | |
| Two roads diverged in a wood, and I, | |
| I took the one less traveled by, | |
| And that has made all the difference. |
What is the road not taken? That road not taken is the road of practicality. I had my moments of brilliance, and money, but there is nothing like the longevity smooth road of security. We all have at least one road not taken. Perhaps my road not taken was marriage. I've had my share at love, but never marriage. Though I too had my chance at that and never partook.
Last night I was sharing wine and stories with a girlfriend. Our friendship fairly new, she knew little of my past. Interested as many people are, she asked about my marital state. I have given many reasons in the past as to why I never married:
1. Never found that one person I wanted to spend the rest of my life with, (a convenient excuse, especially for men.)
2. Always the wrong timing. (somewhat true)
3. Men always want to own me, (or so I felt).
4. I never found that one person that was truly supportive of my art. (very true.)
I have probably always known that I would be an artist, losing myself early on in my meandering watercolors and drawings. But I tried early on in my college years to pursue more practical avenues biology, anthropology, teaching, perhaps nursing, I even avoided art classes at first because I knew once I started I wouldn't stop. But there are things that can't be helped, some forces of nature are too strong. And though I have had my share of regrets one is not pursuing my art.
And so yes the road has been tough sometimes, and I have meandered more than I would like to admit, starting my own graphics business, raising my daughter. But that one road that I persist going down is narrow and lies before me. Sometimes the obstacles intimidate me, but I preserve. And so here I am alone in my studio, much often to the dismay of my bank account. "I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference."
