“Would you tell me, please, which way I ought to go from here?”
“That depends a good deal on where you want to get to,” said the Cat.
“I don’t much care where—” said Alice.
“Then it doesn’t matter which way you go,” said the Cat.
– Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll.
Whether we’ve read the book, seen the numerous cinema and television adaptations, or simply developed a fascination with the characters of his novel, we are no strangers to Carroll’s attempt to depict a world that was both illogical and unpredictable. Alice’s quest in wonderland is about a girl who is trying to make sense of her surroundings in a place where nothing stays the same for long. Does that sound familiar? Growing up we all have illusions of what we want to become. As we get older those illusions turn into dreams of the life we wish to have. When we enter the real world, we try to replace those dreams with plans and ideas that perhaps will give us some sense of structure and direction. But that’s not always the case. The truth is that life turns out to be a lot more complicated than we thought it would be. The constant juggling of relationships and responsibilities along with our aspirations and society’s expectations can cloud our minds and hearts at times. Cloud them enough for us to lose our sense of north. I, too, just like Alice, have found myself in the same pursuit, desiring to move along in life without having much clarity about which direction to take.
This reality is not limited to us, here and now. Humans have always sought to answer life’s most difficult and existential questions hidden deep within our souls. I believe that the answers to these questions of purpose, meaning and direction are critical and have great influence on the path we choose. Because there are many factors that influence and ultimately determine our life’s journey, we often rely on what we know to guide us. We depend on our upbringing, our education, our values and even our beliefs to determine the path that will lead us to the accomplishment of our plans and the achievement of those dreams and illusions we once had. The truth is that we are all, in some way or another, still trying to make sense of it all.
George Harrison tried to give us some context of the Cheshire Cat’s observation to Alice when he wrote the song “Any Road” in 1988. If you don’t remember Gorge Harrison is because his name is usually hidden behind the names of John Lennon and Paul McCartney. Harrison was the lead guitarist for the Beatles from 1958 to 1970. “Any Road” was the last song released after his death. I’d like to think that like us, Harrison struggled in his search for meaning and direction. One thing is for sure, the words written in this piece echo the challenge most of us have as we struggle to do this thing called life. Harrison knew of this human struggle well when he wrote, “But oh Lord we’ve got to fight, with the thoughts in the head with the dark and the light… And if you don’t know where you’re going, any road will take you there.”
The problem with moving forward in life without having a clear sense of direction is that we might be embarking in a journey to nowhere. That reality my dear readers, will cost us greatly. Above all, it will cost us time. Time spent in a purposeless journey that will consume our emotions, resources and energy. Harrison was right. It is a fight, a fight in our minds to choose between the right and the wrong path. Regardless of background, culture, race, creed, etc… the struggle is real. That struggle belongs to us all. We all know life is not easy, and making sense of the world around us while trying to find our place in it without any help can be a difficult task. But the load does get easier when we surround ourselves with those who want the best for us, those who want to see us succeed and find direction in life.
Let’s revisit Carroll’s’ Wonderland for a moment. When we take a closer look, that’s exactly what some of the characters in Wonderland where trying to do with Alice. The Cheshire Cat was trying to give Alice a sense of reality in the midst of a world that didn’t make sense. Humpty Dumpty teaches Alice about the importance of being flexible. The Caterpillar advised Alice that she could take control of some things if only she’d take steps to do so. The Red Queen was trying to give Alice guidance and structure. The Gryphon explains to Alice how circumstances in life change us. And although The White Knight doesn’t teach Alice anything, he does walk with her and protects her. Now, I admit that there’re some characters in Wonderland that are rude, narrow, anxious, judgmental, disinterested and sometimes even cruel. But isn’t that a clear depiction of the world we live in? There is no doubt that we will encounter all sorts of characters and personalities in our journey. It is up to us who we choose to surround ourselves with.
We are not meant to do this alone. We never were. I hope this post serves as encouragement for you to find someone who commits to doing life with you. I pray this post serves as advice for you to no longer walk alone, but that you will find a friend, a mentor, a life coach or a spiritual advisor who cares enough about you to see that you are not walking purposeless. A great king once said that it was not wise to walk alone in life because, as he put it; “Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another… Two are better off than one, because if one of them falls down, the other can help him up. But if someone is alone and falls, there is no one to help him.” – King Salomon.
That said, I’m grateful for those important few that have accepted the challenge and embraced the, at times, difficult task of coaching, correcting and directing me when I had no idea of where I was going. As we continue our journey as part of this “Human Race”, we have to be intentional about finding those who will encourage us, teach us and even carry us when this road gets the best of us and we find ourselves struggling and looking for direction. Hopefully one day, you can pay it forward.
Jonathan Santiago
This Human Race 