When I was nine, my aunt, uncle and three cousins were moving from 10 minutes away from us in California to Australia. Our whole family was so sad to see them go.
On the way home from saying our final goodbyes, everyone was still in tears. Halfway to our house, my mom announced that we’d take “the happy way home.” My brother and I were intrigued, we had never taken the happy way.
My mom made a turn on a street we never drove on and went a windy route, up and over the hill, to connect back to the street we usually drove up. It was a detour that only took an extra few minutes, but it was a change of perspective, and made us all feel better.
What’s amazing, is that it stuck. That route forever became the happy way. When I’m in my home town and feeling blue, I take the happy way home. We never talk about it explicitly, but I have been in the car numerous times with my mom or my brother and we have taken the happy way when we needed it. Once my brother and I drove back from our Great Aunt’s memorial service in silent reflection, and when he put his blinker on to make the random turn, I felt a little better.
The happy way reminds me of the power we have to choose the path we’ll take. That sometimes one simple turn is all it takes to change how you’re feeling, viewing things, allow you to begin to heal.
There are so many times we need to take the happy way home, for losses or setbacks big and small, for others, or ourselves. I’m not sure what form yours will take, but be open to choosing to take it.
Photo by Martine Jacobsen on Unsplash