By Markie Doczi | Featured Contributor

The Road Not Taken by Robert Frost has always resonated with me. As a writer, I can appreciate a good simile, and I always want to live my life like he describes in this poem. I think this logic applies to daily life, both the big and the little things. For example, I have always believed in daring to be different, and I take it as a compliment when people call me weird. The only time I go with the flow is when I’m floating down a lazy river!

This is not to say that I live some eccentric lifestyle: I’m married, we have a mortgage, and I’m scratching my head about how to keep the critters out of my garden. And as much as I would love to travel overseas one day, you don’t have to backpack across Europe to take the road less traveled!

To me, it’s as simple as deciding not to always be in a hurry. Take a lazy day every now and then, read a book. Stop at a yellow light instead of taking it as a challenge.

It’s taking the time to stay in contact with relatives, instead of ending up like so many of us who lose someone and feel the inevitable remorse at having lost touch. I get it- everyone has their own lives, and it’s almost impossible to keep up with everyone. But there is something to be said about prioritizing. Let your loved ones know they’re loved.

It’s as big as not giving in to peer pressure. Yes, I said peer pressure; that thing that we associate with kids and school, but which is actually everywhere and never goes away! Don’t protest something because ‘everyone else’ is; and likewise, don’t let your voice be silenced because it’s not the common opinion. Like I’m always telling my stepdaughter, know your mind and form your own opinions about things.

And it’s as easy as choosing happy! Granted, this is not always easy to accomplish, but it is an easy decision. We all have bad days, and some of us have depression, bad tempers or other issues. My philosophy on this is, hey- life sucks on a good day! Bills are stressful, emergencies and accidents happen, people fight… that’s just how it is. But find whatever brings you peace, whether it’s a hammock (which I have) or a hobby (of which I have too many), and do that thing that brings you joy. Because if you choose happy, you will inevitably bring happiness to others.

“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.”

– excerpt from The Road Not Taken, by Robert Frost

How have you taken the road less traveled?

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Markie Doczi

Markie Doczi is a freelance writer, poet, and stepmom from Middleport, Ohio. She aspires to relate to people with her poetry, offering encouragement and understanding of situations that others may be going through. Her accomplishments include one self-published collection of poetry, Beneath the Old Oak Tree, and others that are in the works. You can connect with her at her writing blog, South Paw Poet, or her craft/hobby blog, Green Gemini.

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