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It was one of those nights where the clock wasn't in synch with my schedule. As I was finishing getting ready to go out for the evening, the clock was telling me I should already be there. One of those time warps where a great space is gone without me recognizing it.

So, I started out late. Traffic was heavy but I entertained myself by having a great conversation with a friend on my cell phone. I was confident heading to downtown L.A. After all, this IS my city and I'm at home here.

As I took my exit and tried to get to The Standard to celebrate my friend Elsa, I ran into one obstacle after another. All kinds of roads were barricaded and blocked. I didn't realize the city was set up for the Marathon the next day and, frankly, at this point I didn't care. Friendly traffic people were out waving me on to go in directions I didn't want to go. I have to be honest here and admit that I waved back at a few of them with a gesture that I haven't used in years.

I was confused and lost, feeling blocked from my destination. It was right there and I knew it, but the traffic gods weren't on my side this night and I was about to give up and go home.

So close and yet so far away.

Then I called my friend's cell phone to let her know I was at the end of my rope. She passed the phone to my angel friend, Monica, who stayed on the phone to guide me through until I got to the parking garage. She gave me clear, specific directions to follow as I got out of the elevator ' TURN LEFT and I'd be there.

So, as I turned right not once but twice and found myself stranded on a street corner, my beautiful friend called me once again and came outside to bring me in.

As I looked back on this experience, I was amused to see that it was a great metaphor for life.

Sometimes we get lost and confused. We know we're REALLY close to our destination or goal. We can feel it, see it, taste it. We're excited about it and yet, for whatever reasons, our way seems to be blocked and we feel we are being forced to take endless detours.

The simple truth is that sometimes we need to ask and receive help. Sometimes we need to be willing to be guided and shown the way.

Our goal, our destination, our success IS right there waiting for us. We just need to take a deep breath and be willing to go a different way than we had originally planned.

Delay is not denial. Barricades are not impenetrable barriers. We just need to open our eyes to see things from a different perspective, to seek the solution instead of focusing on the problem. We need to have people around us who have been where we're going and are willing to show us the way.

Sometimes on the road of life we become frustrated, angry, and confused. We may feel we've lost our way, lost our direction. We may be ready to give up on our dreams and just turn back to the familiar. In those moments we are almost blinded by the haze of illusion that blocks us from seeing the truth.

We can always make a different choice. When we're on the road of life, when we feel lost and are about to give up, that's the precise moment when we may need to take a deep breath, relax, and ask for help or guidance. Holding our vision strong, we can then stand in the faith that we are fully supported and that everything we need will be provided. Absolutely everything.

Because while we know what lies behind us, without the courage to move forward we will never know the miracles and the magic that lies ahead.

Don't leave before the miracles happen! YOU deserve them!!!

Copyright 2006 Debbie Friedman