I am sure we have all heard the saying, “when nothing goes right, go left," well how do I turn left? I know how to make a left-hand turn when I am driving. I flip on my left turn signal, look around me to make sure I don’t crash into someone, and then finally turn the wheel to the left. Why can’t it be that simple in life? I am a righty who is stuck in the right-hand lane while trying to do the right thing.
People make it sound so easy to make the best out of the worst things. For awhile I thought it was this big secret that no one was letting me in on, or it was this “AHA” moment that everyone had in life. I just kept wondering when I would figure out what to do to stop turning right. Well, let me tell you it is not some big “AHA” moment. It is much more simple than that.
So how do you go left when nothing goes right?
You just relax.
Life can be stressful, like trying to make the left hand turn out of Wampanoag Drive onto Main Street during rush hour. If you are like me, you probably get nervous and second guess yourself five times before you actually decide you are going to turn soon. Even though it seems like there are 500 people waiting on you to make the turn, just breathe. It's okay to get stressed and worried over something, everybody does, but you just have to shake it off. The next opening in traffic (and in life) will come and then you can turn left.
Enjoy Your Surroundings.
When things get hectic or don’t work out I tend to stress and only worry about that one tiny thing. I forget about the people and things that make my life so great. It's like when I’m stuck in the 5 o'clock traffic on 91. Yeah, traffic sucks when it causes you to be late to work or practice, but it slows you down. It makes you appreciate the beautiful scenery around you like the Old Thrall Farm House right next to the Farmington River. You have to appreciate the people who are constantly in your life. Even though if you don’t always realize they are there, they are and deserve to be noticed. They are beautiful people whether they happen to be family, friends, teammates, or coaches.
Find a New Route.
Everybody reaches that point in their life when they think it's over, and nothing is going to work out. I’ve reached that point multiple times, I was ready to put it in park and give up. Well, if I gave up while being stuck in traffic or behind a slow car I would probably still be driving home right now. Instead of stopping or staying on the same route, I would use my GPS to find another fast route home. I know there is no GPS to life, trust I wish that was a thing too, but just take a step back from the situation. Look at what you are doing and try something new, you don’t want to keep going in a circle of right turns. That will get you nowhere. You have to be patient before you find the best way to do something, or to work something out. It isn’t going to happen right away. I know I have gotten lost multiple times while trying a new route home, but whatever I learned from it. Soon enough I would find myself taking the left-hand turn into my driveway. In the end, it will all work out.
So going left isn’t as hard as it sounds. It may take awhile to get used to before you are a pro at it, but don’t fret it will work out. Happy travels, and I hope I helped get you to stop turning in a circle.
Now if going left doesn’t work, well sorry you’re just SOL my friend.
