The Hero's Journey

To paraphrase the late great mythologist Joseph Campbell: The hero's journey is the adventure of living your own life.

His words are as true today as they were when he wrote them and serve as an important reminder that there is no one righr way to live a life, no cookie cutter formula, no perfect answer. There is only the unique paths that individuals carve out for themselves within the context of the human community. With a little practice and attention to biography, you can see the hero's journey in the life of everyday people.

Today's example: Anita Shreve was a high school teacher who left her job (mid-semester) to devote more time to her writing. That decision "to write" led her to work as a journalist in Kenya, to freelance for the New York Times Magazine, and to teach creative writing. It also landed her on Oprah when The Pilot's Wife was chosen for Oprah's book club. After that, her fame made it easier (financially speaking) to pursue her vocation.

The point I want to make is not (yet another) overused cliche to "pursue your dreams" and that "dreams can come true." It is simply a reminder that we all have unique paths in life. When we start out, we may not know where that path will lead us. But we do know that unique life journeys are filled with obstacles and challenges. The hero's journey is, by definition, not an easy journey. But it doesn't have to be a lonely one. It can be shared with others and others can share in it and, in that sharing, we find the support and meaning of community.