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I think the phrase “Do the weirdest thing that feels right” just doesn’t catch the meaning they’re trying to explain[2]. I thought of a couple of alternatives,
by robocat 4y ago
I think the phrase “Do the weirdest thing that feels right” just doesn’t catch the meaning they’re trying to explain[2].
I thought of a couple of alternatives, but can you think of a sentence that captures the sense better, or a metaphor[1], or an existing concept (perhaps in another language)?
[1] e.g. the road less travelled - although that particular phrase has always bothered me because it doesn’t imply roaming over fields or bush bashing through jungles, but instead just following the routes of others which is kind of self-defeating. A road is definitely not what I am looking for here (alternatively, some metaphorical popular roads are fabulous).
[2] a good blogpost on a personal discovery is hard to write - how do you reproduce that epiphany in someone else through writing? Couple of good topics there for a blogpost!
(Edited for clarity)
- lief79 4y agoAh yes, the false dichotomy of the road less travelled. Fairly sure one of my friends in high school had an essay trashed for taking that stance. Then again, he was a minimalist with anything homework related, so it could have been justified for other reasons.
- vaidhy 4y agoAlmost everyone misunderstands "the road less travelled" poem. The point is not to take the less travelled road, but it is that it does not matter. Irrespective of the road taken, the poet says he would be just connecting the dots in hindsight. Here is a nice image that expounds on the same idea - https://www.zenpencils.com/comic/60-robert-frost-the-road-not-taken/ https://www.zenpencils.com/comic/60-robert-frost-the-road-no...
- el_don_almighty 4y agoThank you for such a compelling link. It was a wonderful interlude to my day and confirmed your thought. In my mid 50s now and I find no solace in reconsidering past decisions. I awake to a new world every day, thankful for the fond memories, blessed that today holds new opportunities for a future I cannot imagine.
- robocat 4y agoPhrases take on their own memetic life and often, in popular usage, do not carry the original meaning. Choosing a good phrase matters to help keep the core idea alive. Beautiful comic (with bonus nearly-localised references!) Definitely shows two very popular life choices in New Zealand.
- astrobe_ 4y agoPerhaps "off the beaten path" is more appropriate, although it has apparently (non native speaker) both the meaning of "less traveled" or "atypical".
- deleted 4y ago[deleted]