The Lessons in the Detour

Life is what happens to us while we are making other plans.

— Allen Saunders

For as long as I can remember, I’d been a meticulous planner. I loved the feeling of knowing what was next, of having a roadmap to follow. But life doesn’t always unfold according to plan, does it? Sometimes, it feels like we’re on a straight path, only to find ourselves abruptly rerouted—taken down roads we never intended to travel.

I’ve experienced some significant detours in my life. From my battles with wanting to exit this lifetime to my journey through sobriety to being faced with my own mortality through cancer, none of these were part of the plan I originally envisioned for myself. But as much as I resisted these unexpected turns, they taught me lessons I could never have learned otherwise.

What Detours Teach Us

Detours have a way of revealing truths we didn’t even know we needed to see. They show us our resilience, our capacity to adapt, and the power of surrender. When we’re forced off the path we thought we should be on, we’re given the opportunity to discover something deeper—a strength within us that only reveals itself in times of uncertainty.

During my battle with cancer, there were moments when I felt completely lost. I questioned why this was happening to me and whether I’d ever make it through. But as painful as it was, that detour became one of the most transformative experiences of my life. It taught me to value the present moment, to trust in God’s timing, and to find beauty in the smallest of victories—like a day when I had the energy to take care of things around my apartment or laugh hysterically over the random memes I’d come across online while sitting in treatment.

Sobriety, too, was an unexpected road. I thought letting go of alcohol would mean losing something, but what I gained was freedom, clarity, and a deeper connection to myself and others. Without a sober mind, I think I mastered the art of being a chameleon—blending with my environment instead of accepting who I was. Sobriety taught me that it’s okay to feel discomfort, to sit with it, and to stay true to myself. That detour wasn’t just a change of direction; it was a return to who I was meant to be all along.

Ask Yourself:

• What detour in my life has shaped me the most?

• How can I view unexpected changes as opportunities for growth?

• What might this current season be teaching me?

How to Navigate the Detours

1. Release the Need for Control: It’s natural to want to hold tightly to your plans, but life often has a better route in mind. Let go and trust the journey.

2. Look for the Lessons: Instead of asking, “Why is this happening to me?” ask, “What can I learn from this?”

3. Celebrate the Small Wins: Even on the hardest detours, there are moments of grace. Recognize and cherish them.

4. Share Your Story: When you’re ready, sharing your experiences can bring healing and hope to others navigating their own unexpected paths.

An Invitation

Today, I invite you to embrace the detours in your life. They might not be what you planned, but they hold the potential to shape you in ways you never imagined. Trust that even in the rerouting, you are being guided to exactly where you’re meant to be.

And if you need a reminder, think of this: Life’s detours aren’t the end of the road. They’re just another way to get to where you’re going.