Ralph Waldo Emerson once said, “Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.” I’m sure by now we have all noticed that everywhere we walk on this campus, there really is no straight path. I’m sure that even now with snow on the ground, at some point in time, we have all cut across the grass to get to where we were going instead of taking the zigzag path, doing just what Emerson said, leaving our own snowy footprints in a path on the grass.

Though this may be the case, I don’t really think that’s what he meant when he said this. Why do we not follow the paths? Is it because we were running late? Is it because we needed to get somewhere faster? Or is it simply because we just didn’t care enough to take the time to slow down, soak in the environment around us and walk those few extra steps?

I don’t necessarily think that it is a bad thing that we don’t always follow the paths. I mean really if you think about it, you could get motion sickness for how much they wind and turn, but that doesn’t mean that we should always take a shortcut. There are instances when we should take the time to slow down and appreciate the world around us.

Let’s say that you just got done with your toughest class or just had an exam that you don’t think you did so well on. Instead of rushing back to your room, why not take the nice stroll and clear your mind? It really is amazing what the fresh air and a little walk could do to your stress levels. Trust me, I know.

Now, I’m not going to sit here and preach to you how you should always walk on the paths, because otherwise you could kill the grass, especially when it’s wet. I have had my fair share of rushing around. Now with the snow covering the ground, you’re just putting your own shoes at risk. I mean, is it really worth it to get your feet soaked just because you don’t feel like taking the long way? Well if you’re running late, then I suppose so, but otherwise, not so much.

To get inspiration and just to clear my head, I decided to take a walk around campus, and, yes, I did walk along the paths. As I was winding my way around, I found so many trails of footprints leading through the snow. I also saw some designs drawn in it, obviously by someone who had the time to, for which I congratulate him or her. It truly amazed me to see just how many people decided to put their shoes and the bottom of their pants in jeopardy and made them get wet and cold.

When my journey was coming to an end, I realized that the funny thing about paths and footprints is that no matter where they may lead you, they do exist and serve a purpose. Whoever designed the layout of this campus made it look this way for a reason. It could have been for the amusement of watching people walk in every direction possible, or it could have been so we actually appreciate the surrounding area. Maybe we should take the time to take the long way around more often. You could be amazed at what you find.

The amazing thing about all of these different paths is that they all connect at some point. Eventually, you will get to where you are going. It just might take a little time. In the wise words of Dr. Seuss, “You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose. You’re on your own. And you know what you know. And YOU are the one who’ll decide where to go.”

My mom always told me that I shouldn’t always be in such a hurry, that I should slow down, take my time and not wish my life away. So that’s exactly what I’m going to tell you. Slow down. Take your time. You will get to where you need to be. Appreciate your surroundings and realize how lucky you are to be in such a beautiful place.

Sure, the paths are windy and go every which way, but isn’t that what makes life so great? There is no one path that you can take to get you where you need to go. Save your shoes the damage and walk along the paths. From time to time, leave your own footprint in the snow, but don’t rush into it every single day. Slow down and breathe. I’m sure you have time for that.