Adventure #19: The Zigzag

“Previous journeys in search of treasure have taught me that a zigzag strategy is the best way to get ahead.”  ~ Tahir Shah

There's a post somewhere on the Internet that describes lines. These lines spoke to me as more than math terms. Though I love math, I gained insight that I had not expected to procure. In this gathering, I decided it's something I'd like to share. Here is good. And I suppose I ought to start with the concept itself:

• Parallel lines have a lot in common but they never meet. Ever. You might think that's sad.
• But every other pair meets once and then drifts apart forever. Which is pretty sad too.

I agree that both of the line scenarios are sad. This was made sadder when I thought that maybe life was like this - do people, who have a lot in common, never meet? Do we have people enter our lives for a fleeting adventure, never to be seen again? Unfortunately, I believe both happen. Which is why I am grateful for those in my life who have done The Zigzag.

To renew in life, we can zig when expected to zag. Sometimes we reverse it. Often we enjoy connecting with those who will also zig when we expect them to zag. I propose that in the best relationships the zigging and zagging unite the principles of parallel lines with lines that only meet once.

Consider the following illustration:

 

When the blue and purple lines are traced, the places they intersect as well as the parallel sections are blatant. But the beautiful part? The blue and purple lines are traveling together! They remain clearly themselves. They connect. They have plenty in common. They continually renew and refresh through unexpected zigging and zagging. And through it all, they grow together. That's the beautiful part!

The inspiration of The Zigzag came from a dear friend, who often zigs when I expect her to zag. We are currently traveling together - we remain ourselves - we connect - we have plenty in common - and we refresh through unexpected zigging and zagging. I have grown because of that friendship. And while The Zigzag can vary in size as well as apply to a variety of relationships, this friend is proof that The Zigzag does work.