All the roads lead to Rome

Rome - What have I done to you?

They say all roads lead to Rome. But who can guarantee that Rome will still be there even if we take the wrong road? Who can guarantee that the right road won’t lead us to a destination better than Rome?

The ancient Thessalonians used to say that all roads lead to the sea. The people of Chania to the harbor/lighthouse, and the people of Ioannina to the Clock Tower.

I know. It’s easy to believe that all roads lead to Rome. It’s the quick fix. “I have this, so I’ll go there. I don’t need to search, grow, learn, evolve, or suffer.”

Because in reality, do you know how much pain it takes to find the right place once you’ve gotten lost? A lot.

Do you know how hard it is to wander through unfamiliar places—places legendary for their beauty—and not be able to see it? No, this isn’t just called depression. It’s also called rushing.

I’m rushing to get here, rushing to get there. All roads lead to Rome. So why should I search? Why should I bother? Why should I study, since in the end I’ll get where I want to go? A reasonable question.

“But what if I don’t want to go to Rome?” No, all roads lead there. Unless, of course, you change your GPS. Change your maps. Change your mindset. Change your means of communication. Change your environment. From the inside out and from the outside in.

Don’t be fooled by the illusion of safety. If you don’t want to go to Rome, don’t go. And if you do, be careful. It’s a dangerous city when you don’t know what you want from it. (with love for the city).

And if you ever make it to Rome, you’ll see a scene like this. You’ll see a scene that looks familiar, but isn’t. You’ll see a view of two sides of a building—or many buildings—and the sea. Isn’t that what you’ve always wanted?

No. You didn’t want that. You just wanted to explore the world. And you forgot that along the way. Because they told you, “All roads lead to Rome.” And you believed it. Without knowing/searching/exploring that there are thousands of cities and countries like Rome.

Oxymoron, isn’t it?

Note: The text does not refer to cities :)