No matter the distance we travel, we each take a different route and face different distractions along the way. Be it a simple trip to the shopping mall where Person A drives and Person B (who lives next door) takes the bus.
Person A gets in their car, puts on most favorite cd, adjusts the temperature to their perfect level. Maybe gets stuck in traffic for a bit, might make a bluetooth phone call to a friend to see if they can go on a last minute shopping trip. Otherwise uneventful trip.. typical of outings to the mall.
Person B however chats with the neighbour as she walks to the bus stop, the neighbor who because of these little chats now brings over cookies when she bakes too many... starts chatting with her son's friend's mom while waiting and finds out he's been going to the construction site where he was told to stay out of... Over hears two people talking about this amazing new fabric cleaner on the ride and thinks it would be perfect for where the cat threw up on the cushion in the middle of the night, and the stain never came out so cushion is permanently flipped, sees a woman struggling with a stroller and a couple kids and bags when they arrive at her stop, helps young mom unload and get settled before venturing into the mall. Young mom never forgot that and when Person B applied for a job when Young Mom worked, she went out of her way to make sure that Person B secured and enjoyed the position.
Person A arrived more quickly, stayed cleaner, more comfortable.
Person B took the long way .. came out with a little something from the bus seat on their pants, is too hot/cold from waiting for buses .... but ...also found out what her son has been up to, was able to clean the impossible cat puke stain, got a job she didn't even know she was looking for (or that she had secured it that day!) and will get cookies cause of it!
I mean .. who doesn't love cookies??
Some people have a lot of help in their life. They are blessed with big families who help them at every stage they can. When they go back to work after having kids, they have family to watch their baby at a fraction of the price, they have people that can help pick up and drop off for soccer, hockey and bowling practices. Advice is always available, and when you do make a mistake ... family is there to help. When family upgrades appliances etc, the old, but still good ones are gifted to family or sold at an exceptionally fair price. When finances get a little tight as they learn to budget these people have someone they can borrow off, or who occasionally will buy something they know their family member Person A needs, just cause that's what families do. :) Person A drives to the mall.
Some people don't have a lot of help, and have things happen that out of their hands.
They try hard and always look for new ways to be better. But they take the bus to the mall.
Going back to work after having a baby feels ridiculous, because of the cost of childcare, and making it there, and finding people to drive different kids to different practices is difficult. When unsure of what to do, they're asking people their age or younger with as much or less experience.. and when a mistake is made, sometimes it feels like theres no way to fix it. Not much gets given .. Person B watches person A get household items for free or next to nothing, and waits for it to go on sale to get for their family. When the budget gets messed up for whatever reason life throws at, there no one to ask for help, which spirals into more debt. Person B takes the bus.
As different as they are .. Person A & Person B are the same in so many ways too... I mean they were going to the same place! We all ... we all just wanna make it to happiness!
They both want to feel like they belong somewhere, have partners who value and make them feel wanted, they want friends they can trust and to give their children a happy life where they are loved, nurtured and can learn to be their best. They both want happiness.
No matter what road your on, or who you're riding with you're gonna have a different experience, it's important to remember that not everyone has had the same trip, and you never know when you'll have to take a detour down a road you never new existed cause of circumstance you could never have imagined.
Wishing you all a safe trip, no matter which route you're on right now. :)
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