How many crossroads do we cross in our lifetime? Most of us would not even think about it, take it for granted, or simply pass by it without a blink.
cross·road(krȯs-ˌrōd)
1: a road that crosses a main road or runs cross-country between main roads.
c: a crucial point especially where a decision must be made.
How many crossroads do we cross in our lifetime? Most of us would not even think about it, take it for granted, or simply pass by it without a blink. Not everyone would even think that alone is a blessing, for some have none to cross at all. In many of my travels, I recall numerous wonderful crossroads I've watched and crossed. I crossed the streets of Ho Chi Minh City during rush hour, the famous Shibuya crossing in Tokyo, or the peaceful rural street with Vang Vieng mountains across it were just a few of those places.
As I watched the beautiful chaos of Ho Chi Minh City from a seat I occupied on the top floor of a French bakery with its full glass wall, where I enjoyed Cà phê đá, one afternoon in the summer of 2010. I was appalled by how my lens saw it initially as chaos, but there was only 'flow'. No stoplights at the roundabout, the traffic officers were there to just watch and guide, but it flowed with the collective intuition of knowing that as long as they kept going, city life goes on in peace. No drama. I realize it didn't start there; it was their daily living, it was brought by the watchers, the commentators, the complaints from others, the reaction of two or more varying perspectives. Just different people living different lives.
Slowly, but more and more noticeable that approaching crossroads doesn't only happen on the streets or going to a certain destination, but also happens in every journey on navigating through the path we chose to go. It was never about changing what does not fit the standards we took on, but rather accepting that we are all different and we're all beautiful that way. Despite all that, I still think we can all get along if we put our differences aside and lead from our hearts. And you know what? Seems like we are all more the same than different.