The Road Isn’t the Point—The Ride Is
Two roads diverged in a yellow wood.
Twenty years ago, I stood on a stage in front of my graduating class, quoting Robert Frost’s most iconic lines. I told a room full of sleepy, hope-filled 21- and 22-year-olds to take the road less traveled. Blaze their own path. Trust themselves, even if the route looked unfamiliar.
After my college graduation — Johnson C. Smith University, Class of 2008
Back then, I meant it with my whole chest. And honestly? I still do.
But now, with some real mileage behind me, I know this: it was never just about the road. It was always about the ride.
The Truth About Choosing Your Path
The road less traveled sounds poetic. Courageous. Unique. But what they don’t tell you is that forging your own path isn’t for the faint of heart. It can be lonely. Disorienting. And at times, it will ask more of you than you knew you had to give.
I’ve taken roads no one expected. I’ve charted courses that didn’t come with a map. And while I’ve learned so much about resilience and clarity, I’ve also learned this:
Not every journey requires solitude. And not every path walked by many is void of meaning.
There is value in togetherness. There is wisdom in shared vision. There is power in choosing your riders as intentionally as you choose your direction.
The Real Journey: My Road Trip Reflection
I took this during sunset at the Grand Canyon.
A few years ago, I went on a literal cross-country road trip. We packed snacks, built playlists, mapped out the route, and—most importantly—we chose our crew before we hit the road.
Nobody was picked up along the way. Nobody had to "earn their seat." We chose each other with intention, because when you’re about to cross state lines and time zones, you don’t just think about the road. You think about who’s riding with you.
And even with all that planning? We still had to adjust. Switch drivers. Sit in silence. Pull over to breathe. Laugh, cry, stretch, and reroute.
The road didn’t just show us new places. It showed us new parts of ourselves.
Who's In Your Car?
Whether you're on a highway or backroad, the people you invite into your journey matter. Sometimes, we focus so much on the destination that we forget to ask:
Am I traveling with people who see me clearly?
Do I trust them enough to let them drive?
Am I being honest about where I want to go?
Because you can’t blame people for not taking you where you want to go, if you never say where that is.
That one hits hard—because I had to learn it myself.
So, What Kind of Traveler Are You?
Are you the self-navigator? The one who holds the map and the wheel and the weight, because you’ve never been able to trust anyone else to?
Photo by Element5 Digital: https://www.pexels.com/photo/person-pointing-a-location-on-the-map-1051075/
Or are you the silent passenger? The one who shrinks in the backseat, letting others decide the direction while you quietly hope it aligns with your truth?
Maybe, just maybe, you're becoming the intentional co-rider. The one who checks in, speaks up, takes turns, and builds a journey rooted in joy and clarity.
The Charge
This post isn’t here to romanticize the road. It’s here to remind you that the ride matters. That how you move through life—and who you move with—is just as important as the path itself.
If you’re ready to reflect deeper on this, listen to the full conversation in Episode 0007 of The Gr8tness Router: "The Road Trip."
And if you’re in a season of rerouting or reclaiming your sense of direction? My book, Laid Off Lemonade, might be just what you need for the next leg of your journey.
Because the roads will always be there. But how you ride?
That’s where the real story lives.
When Life Hands You Lemons, Make Magic: The Story Behind Laid Off Lemonade
What does it really mean to rebuild when the ground beneath you feels unsteady? How do you rediscover your fire when life’s challenges try to extinguish it? Laid Off Lemonade was born out of these very questions—and a deep belief that even the sourest of moments can be transformed into something meaningful, refreshing, and undeniably powerful.
What does it really mean to rebuild when the ground beneath you feels unsteady? How do you rediscover your fire when life’s challenges try to extinguish it? Laid Off Lemonade was born out of these very questions—and a deep belief that even the sourest of moments can be transformed into something meaningful, refreshing, and undeniably powerful.
The Story Behind Laid Off Lemonade
This book didn’t begin as a neatly wrapped idea. It began as a pattern—a recurring theme in my own life that I could no longer ignore. Over the years, I faced moments that felt like breaking points: my work, my energy, and my worth weren’t being honored. But here’s the twist—I wasn’t just “laid off.” Many times, I chose to lay myself off.
Walking away from spaces that couldn’t hold my value wasn’t easy. It required faith, resilience, and a bold belief that something better was waiting on the other side. It’s a lesson I’ve lived and one I’ve witnessed, time and time again.
I’ve always been someone who stands in the gap for others—a “back-spot,” as I call it. Whether it was helping a friend regain their confidence or watching my father navigate career highs and devastating lows, I saw firsthand that setbacks aren’t the end of the story. They’re the turning point.
That’s why I created Laid Off Lemonade. It’s more than a book; it’s a steady hand, a guiding light, and a reminder that there’s always a way forward—even if you can’t see it yet.
What’s Inside Laid Off Lemonade?
This isn’t just a book; it’s a toolkit for transformation. It’s designed to meet you right where you are and help you move forward with clarity and purpose. Here’s what you’ll find inside:
Creative Exercises: Thought-provoking prompts to help you reflect, reframe, and take the next step.
Inspiring Quotes: A collection of wisdom for the moments when you need clarity and courage most.
A Chapter-by-Chapter Playlist: Music designed to move with you, reflecting the emotions and lessons of each chapter.
Symbolic Lemonade Recipes: Fun, uplifting recipes paired with each chapter to remind you of the sweetness you can create from life’s lemons.
Whether you’re picking it up for yourself or gifting it to someone you love, Laid Off Lemonade offers hope, action, and a little joy along the way.
Who’s This Book For?
Career setbacks rarely happen in isolation. They ripple into every area of life—your confidence, relationships, and daily routines. This book is written for anyone touched by those ripples:
You: If you’re navigating uncertainty and need to reclaim your path with intention.
The Support Network: For spouses, parents, friends, or mentors who want to uplift and encourage the people they care about.
Laid Off Lemonade bridges the gap between uncertainty and opportunity, offering a shared reminder that even small steps forward are worth celebrating.
Why Now?
We live in a world of pivots. Layoffs, new priorities, and bold leaps into the unknown are becoming part of our collective story. But here’s what I know to be true: uncertainty doesn’t mean you’re alone, and every challenge carries the potential for reinvention.
Laid Off Lemonade is an invitation to see those challenges differently—as opportunities to rebuild, reimagine, and reignite. And through Zest, my newsletter, you’ll find ongoing tools, insights, and encouragement to keep turning those lemons into magic.
Ready to Rebuild?
Your journey starts here. Grab your copy of Laid Off Lemonade and take the first step toward creating something extraordinary from life’s challenges. Whether for yourself or someone you care about, this book is a gift of hope, action, and possibility.
And don’t forget to sign up for the Zest Newsletter. Because your journey doesn’t end with the last page—it’s just beginning.
Final Note
Your light, your worth, and your magic? They’re all still there, waiting for you to claim them. Let’s rebuild together.
Origin Story: The ABC Tee
I truly LOVE the design of this tee and honestly this shirt was created to entertain and engage my then two year old son. My son, Stafford, was captivated by the alphabet — but then again, what toddler isn’t?
Note: As the owner of Y/NG GR8TNESS®, I may earn a commission from purchases made through the links seeded throughout this post.
Who doesn’t love a good origin story?
Whether it be a superhero, a villain, a startup company or the underdog. A good origin story sets the tone for the many directions any story can go.
In this instance, I want to discuss how I derived the idea for the “ABC Tee”. Which was originally marketed as “The Alpha Tee”. More on that later.
For those that may not know, I am a mother and a formally trained communication specialist. That being said, my initial training began in the realm of graphic design. Therefore, when I am gifted with an idea, I do my best to articulate it digitally.
Circling back to the design at hand, the ABC Tee. I truly LOVE the design of this tee and honestly this shirt was created to entertain and engage my then two year old son. My son, Stafford, was captivated by the alphabet — but then again, what toddler isn’t? I also give a great deal of credit to my late father (Dr. Thomas E. H. Conway, Jr) for Stafford’s obsession with letters, words and books. My father used to sing the ABCs to Stafford every moment he could. So he truly gets his intellect honestly.
Stafford age 2 wearing the prototype of “The Alpha Tee”, this was my first stab at the now evolved “ABC Tee”
Anywho, during the summer of 2021, my mother, brother, Stafford and myself hopped on the train and traveled to South Florida to visit my grandmother. My grandmother was adamant about Stafford getting the experience of riding on a train in a sleeper car. It is a childhood experience that even my brother and I cherish until this day. So, on the train we traveled.
While we were on the train, my son was gifted several matchbox cars that had been collected from other children that had left them on the train. While he was excited about these cars (at age two), I could only think about having to keep up with them. Mainly because of the devastation that occurs when a toy gets lost. If you are a parent, auntie, uncle, guardian, brother or sister of a little…you understand where I am coming from.
You think you are well prepared. You believe you thought of everything.
Now… let me paint a separate but equally devastating situation. Imagine you have a little person to care for… you grab them, their to-go bag, their sippy cup and maybe even a jacket. You think you are well prepared. You believe you thought of everything. Just to realize… you are in public or in transit without a toy for distraction. WHEW! Now you have to get creative! Especially, if you have yet to introduce “screen time” as a thing.
The three Spring 2023 color choices along with the adult companion tee.
No worries. This is where your new best friend enters the chat! the ABC Tee. Y’all! It dawned on me that I could combine something my tot loves (letters) and something my tot wears regularly (a t-shirt) and combine the two BUT make it specifically for the little person wearing it. I personally feel as though that is where the true brilliance of this tee shines. A garment designed for the person wearing it and not simply for the people around them to see. To me, that is game changing thinking.
So, I sat down at my computer and got busy. How can I make this work? More specifically, how can I make this work and it not confuse my little crumbsnatcher. The last thing I wanted to do was create a concept that would hinder my son’s learning. So…I tested the design on my two year old… AND HE LOVED IT! He has even been instrumental in choosing the base colors of the tees. Then it dawned on me… if this works for my baby then maybe other littles could benefit from this concept too.
Which is how the ABC Tee came to be. It started as a wearable on-the-go learning tool I designed specifically for my son that we are now offering to the world to give a try.
I’ll spare you the various ways we use this tee. Especially when I have rushed out the house without grabbing a toy that he enjoys. the ABC Tee has served us well and it’s an amazing gift for any 2- 5 year old in your life.
In short, this tee’s origin story spawned out of a necessity to be prepared even when I wasn’t prepared. Surprisingly enough though, it has become a staple in my child’s wardrobe. A garment he requests by name.
Stafford, III & his father Stafford, Jr. showing off both versions of The Alpha Tee
Give it a try and tell me what you think. Matter of fact, you can #thankmelater. Order the ABC Tee for your favorite little person today!
Cheers,
Zena C., The GR8TNESS Router