Why Are We So Lost? The Journey Home

Did you ever wonder how you ended up where you are in your life? Is life a culmination of a series of very carefully planned moves or a hodge podge of serendipitous events? Of course as we get to know ourselves better, our radar becomes more finely tuned. Our intuition develops and we become more secure with our inner knowing. We make better choices. Sometimes I think the journey would be easier if we had a map to guide us.

Now granted even if we all started out at 18 with Life's Map of Happiness, there is no guarantee. For sure the map would be lost, read incorrectly or poo-pooed by onlookers. But what would you give now if you had a map that pointed out the dangers and desires that await you? Well Diva, we don't have to wonder any longer, we're going to chart our own Life's map.

I'm using an adaptation of a segment of a beautiful map that was created in the 1600's by the famous cartologist, John Speed. Like most of us, John toiled at a craft to care for his family. He carried on his family's work as a tailor until the age of 48, when a patron discovered his amazing talent. John began his life's legacy to document the British Empire under Queen Elizabeth. John was lifted from obscurity by the grace of his patron and the Queen gave him a room to create his masterpieces. The wonderful gift of John Speed's maps is the beauty with which they were created. Each one can transport us to a tiny isle in the British Empire or a little town in the countryside. They also provided an essential element of a life well lived, direction.

Starting from today, let's create a new life map. Fill it with wonder and possibilities, Mark the paths that are dangerous. Remember Dante painted a warning sign over the gates of hell: Abandon Hope All Ye That Enter Here. You deserve no less. You know the pitfalls that have slowed you down in the past: be it men, lifestyle or poor choices. You don't ever have to go there again and you can seal off the route. Put a big warning sign on the road behind you to remind you of the dangers that lurk in bad decisions.

Now what awaits you in the future? Is it true love, a new career, the birth of a dream? Do you long for adventure and travel to far away lands? Is your family scattered around the globe? The world is your oyster Diva and you can create any map you can imagine to get you to where you want to go. Mark the way and color it with love, life and laughter. To help you get started, I've created a mini-map from one of John Speed's beautiful creations to chart you Life's Journey. I've prompted some of the milestones that are important to a life well lived, and feel free to add your own. To download your version, please go to www.distinctivelydiva.com/index2a.html

Wherever you find yourself in this moment, know it is only one rest stop on the journey. Life is full of valleys and mountains, streams to rest by and an oasis or two along the way. Honor the journey, for it has made you who you are in this moment; a beautiful, courageous, victorious traveler living life's great adventure. Remember to always leave the baggage behind, it's always best to travel light.

Maureen O'Crean is the co-author of I Am Diva, Every Woman's Guide to Outrageous Living. Founder of http://www.DistinctivelyDiva.com, an international online community of women and author of http://www.distinctivelydivadish.com, a web blog devoted to women's issues, Maureen is on a quest to find the balance of fun and results in life.

Please sign up for our free newsletter at http://www.distinctivelydiva.com and tell us ezine sent you.

---

The Shattered Identity

I. ExpositionIn the movie "Shattered" (1991), Dan Merrick survives an accident and develops total amnesia regarding his past. His battered face is reconstructed by plastic surgeons and,... Read More

Forgotten Dreams: At the End... Part I

Treasures of a lifetime...At the end of your life will you be able to stand at your grave and say I lived an amazing life, I have... Read More

Learn From Failure and Confirm with Success

Both failure and success are good... if you know what their specific purpose is.Of course we know that success is good, but why? Success is good because... Read More

Living on Purpose: One Rock at a Time

I just got back from Colorado where I spent a week relaxing, re-energizing and revisiting the key values in my life. The lodge where I stayed is... Read More

Anamchara - Living a Meaningful Life

At some stage of living your life you will ask the question "What does it mean to be here?"You may phrase the question in different ways but... Read More

Its Not Always About the Benjamins, Baby

Often when I receive emails from this list with folks, Telling me that they have discovered their life's purpose but they don't have the money to do... Read More

Smile! Banish Your Fear

Changing our physiology is one of the best ways to change the way we think and feel. Smiling (and I don't mean just a little smile -... Read More

Everyone Has Been Hurt..... Part 5

Continued...About a year later I met my husband. I met him through his youngest sister and we were inseparable. We began to fight a lot after his... Read More

Living Authentically in a Masked World

Humanity seems to be the only species that never seems pleased with its own. People tend to spend the majority of their life living up to an... Read More

Weapons of Mass Distraction

Anything that draws one away from the business of living and being worthy ? such as drugs, alcohol, distractions of all descriptions, and sleep when the intent... Read More

Courage That Changes Your Life

"The scars you acquire while exercising courage will never make you feel inferior." D.A. Battista"Courage is a special kind of knowledge: the knowledge of how to fear... Read More

Do We Really Want to Be There Yet

The beauty in creation is in the process, in every single step along the way.A lot of attention is given a thing that is under construction or... Read More

Switch to a Better Channel!

Peril, catastrophe and disaster.These are our friends, allies and mentors.Appearing as enemies on the surface, these seeming threats are our most helpful teachers on our Earth adventure.... Read More

One Woman?s Story of How Her Smile Increased Her Confidence

For one who takes pride in being involved with different community organizations, possessing a high level of confidence is essential. Especially when that involvement includes speaking to... Read More

The Women At The Cross (Reflections On The Death And Resurrection Of Jesus)

The women at the cross. Have you ever thought about them?Why not drift into a comfortable - and meditative - position on a coach or in a... Read More

How Would YOU React To Tragedy Like This?

The true story I'm about to share will have a profound impact on you, just as it did on me.One day a mother was in her kitchen... Read More

Create Resistance or Creative Acceptance

Resistance is not a new word, but for many of us awareness of resistance is new. In Webster's Collegiate Dictionary, resistance is defined: "to withstand, to strive... Read More

Pay It Forward

My friend Hugh Jeffries died. He was a wealthy man. His wealth was of the kind that you can take with you when you go. I do... Read More

5 Things That Americans Can Do To Remember Reviving, Surviving and Thriving in the Wake of Sept 11

For those people who lost friends and loved ones in the September 11th World Trade Center attacks, the anniversary will re-open the wounds and renew the... Read More

Self Acceptance ? Lessons From My Hair Affair

For our diet and, indeed, in every aspect of our lives, we must remember to relax from the demands of the unrealistic ideal. For those trying to... Read More

Opening the Heart and Exploring Beneath the Surface

Exploring beneath the surface of a reoccurring relationship issue can be tedious and scary. Seeing beyond a nagging health challenge to the 'deeper issue' requires courage, faith... Read More

Beauty, Gratitude, and the Open Heart

"?beauty on your earth is a shadow of the beauty of our heaven, and it's a bitter thing to have a blindness for beauty on earth, for... Read More

Lifestyle Changes ? A Conscious Choice!

Are you ready for a change? Is it time for those plans that you've been thinking about for so long? Now is a good time for making... Read More

On Stand-by

Direct Answers - Column for the week of April 28, 2003My wife of 35 years has fallen in love again with her old college boyfriend. I am... Read More

The Art of Letting Go

It has been six months since I left the corporate world ? and there are some things I will always miss. Like saying good morning to colleagues... Read More

Universal Thought System Language Keywords

Before we are able to use the Universal Thought System in a positive expansive manner, we must learn to use certain words in our language more effectively.... Read More