Milestones - 4

Read Milestones - 5

Still barefoot his feet had dried as Don continued his journey uphill with his bag pack in tow. He had anticipated that the road would be tough but did not quite expect so many experiences on the way. On the fourth hairpin a new experience expected him.

As the wind picked up speed the trees begun to reach out to each other, the leaves expressed their desire to separate from any bonding and the birds reminded the trees of their strength. The thunder in the background announced its presence to all in the picture, and beyond it.

A tall eucalyptus tree arching over the road invited Don to take shelter. As he stood under the branches, waiting for the fluctuating weather to settle down…he noticed there was an army of ants following each other in a procession up the tree trunk. Every time the wind blew hard or drops of rain fell on their way , the chain of scent would be broken.

The last ant to cross the drop of water, would wait, but not look back and then keep following the ant in front of him. The ant that was before the drop of water stopped and turned around. Speaking briefly to the one behind him and then to the one behind him, as if trying to convince them that they had reached a dead end. But the procession did not listen. They stuck to the line.

Soon the new leader found a way around the drop of water and managed to pick up the lost scent. Soon the rest of them followed. And a new line was formed. This process kept repeating every time the drops of rain or a gust of wind interrupted the ants from their course.

The lonely ant which broke the line and went back...eventually got blown off into the wind…alone he was smaller than his size but together he stood a better chance.

But he did not die. Somewhere in a distant land he fell back to earth. Now with a new realization. He waited patiently and searched relentlessly for his new family. He got one, and never looked back.

The wind had calmed down a bit, and drizzle lightened.Don kept on thinking of lost ant and thought how many times he had lost in life, but he had to try and move ahead, not rue what never happened the way he wanted.

Don looked ahead and something in him wanted to see what lay ahead of him on the 5^th hairpin bend.

Gyanban Thoughts - life gives us opportunities which are disguised.Sometimes an apparent follow the leader opportunity is better than being the direction less leader or rebel.Sometimes falling in line is not such a bad thing.sometimes waiting for the right path is not such bad decision. Our lives are being benchmarked with trend setters, path breakers and trail blazers. while that may sound fancy - it is also important to know that being a follower is not such a bad thing.Isn't? This does not mean you cannot be a leader. You can.

You can. you know why? Because life continues. Even after the worst decision of your life, the worst mistake, life still continues..and continues to give you yet another chance.If being the trail blazer is your destiny then you will find that path eventually, if not, then you know where your future lies.Follow it.

Don thinks of the moments he has lost arguments,battles and decisions in life as he looks at the ants following each other.He always wanted to break away.He did.Will he now find a new path ? Will he realise? or Will he follow his mind ?

Find out in the next hairpin bend.

Read Milestones - 5