Mapping Life

Lately, I have been thinking about maps. I even bought a book called Great Maps. I was always fascinated with the concept and how it not only is just geography but also a window into the culture, beliefs and history. Maps tell stories of journeys taken, routes explored, and territories yet to be discovered. They guide us through winding streets and unfamiliar landscapes, offering reassurance that even when lost, a path forward exists. Life, in many ways, mirrors a map—constantly shifting, redrawing itself with each decision, experience, and transformation.

I’ve often found myself standing at the crossroads, looking at the internal map of my life, wondering which route to take. Sometimes, the terrain is familiar, like well-worn streets I’ve walked before. Other times, I stumble upon new paths, uncharted territories that require courage and curiosity. Life’s map isn’t static; it changes as we do, expanding with each lesson learned and reshaping itself as we grow. But what happens to the roads we've left behind?

I feel like in many ways I took the road less travelled which in its own experience brought more turbulent and intense experiences, reactions from society or questioning the status quo or conditioning that I was brought up with. I feel a lot of pride but I also see my privilege. However, there were also so unexpected detours and unexpected turns that challenged me to adapt. There were also dead ends, where I had to pause, reflect, and choose a new direction and here is where I bumped into a beautiful realization of grace and kindness. Self-compassion is not a very natural experience to me so I am a humble student trying to acknowledge my struggles without letting them define me. It helps me move forward without being weighed down by regret. By treating myself with the same patience and encouragement I’d offer a dear friend, I make space for growth, healing, and discovery.

After all, every map is full of twists and turns—what matters most is how we continue the journey.

I’ve been thinking about how my life’s map continues to evolve. I have let go of roads that no longer serve me, just as travellers leave behind outdated routes in search of new horizons. I have rediscovered forgotten pathways, embracing them with a newfound perspective. There is peace in knowing that while the map of my life will continue to shift, I am the navigator, charting my own course with every step I take.

So I ask you, what does your life’s map look like? Which paths have shaped you, and where are you headed next?