Roads and Adversity
When you’re faced against obstacles (people or otherwise), just think about the ways that road builders can approach the problem:
If there is a cavernous gap or separation caused by water, a bridge is built. The only functional use for a bridge is connecting different places together. It fundamentally requires not only a point in the middle of the gap that can be met, but also provides easy access for a person to fully take in views from those opposing sides.
If one is met with a large obstacle (like a mountain pass), there are a couple of options:
Tunnel through it: Immense determination, intention, and resources are usually required.
Build a winding road: Do you ever notice that mountain roads are rarely straight? The passes usually wind along the contours of the ridge because it reduces the power needed to go up and increases the friction on the way down (which reduces accidents caused by brake failure). In other words, rather than creating the shortest possible path, they cater to the obstacle in order to leverage control and momentum.
Often, road builders have to consider hydrologic cycles and soil mechanics: rock slides, flooding, sinkholes, and earthquakes are destructive forces that can destroy the work. The best solution is careful planning through engineering. It’s foolish to assume that there will never be any problems - it’s best to anticipate them and allow some flexibility for movement, drainage for any runoff, and building safeguards against outside dangers.
Roads are designed to help get you places, to help get you further. So are relationships, careers, and other opportunities. But whether they are physical roads and bridges or they are connections between people, they all require regular maintenance and updating. Sometimes, a new approach is required. It isn’t always easy, but these lessons are crucial in order to overcome our greatest obstacles.
