Off the beaten path
Today I left the beaten path — and found joy in the challenge. When beauty and inspiration surround us, even steep climbs feel meaningful. Sometimes the untrodden path is where we feel most alive.
9/24/20251 min read
There’s a Hungarian proverb: “A járt utat járatlanért el ne hagyd!"
(“Don’t leave the beaten path for the untrodden.”)
Well… today I broke the rule.
And guess what? It was absolutely worth it.
I’m a regular runner — marathons, triathlons, countless half marathons. But let’s be honest: I’m no chamois. I avoid trails because my ankles and knees are not exactly made for acrobatics.
Still, today I felt bored of my usual route. So I went exploring.
What I found? A steep, muddy trail with 220 meters of elevation in just 2.6 km. Slippery rocks, little bridges, waterfalls every few meters. It was tough. And it was mesmerizing.
I forgot that I “didn’t feel like running.”
I forgot that trail-running wasn’t “for me.”
I just enjoyed every step, grinning like a kid who found a secret playground.
And it hit me: this is how I approach challenges in work and life, too.
I don’t mind hard climbs — as long as the environment gives me energy. Beauty, fun, inspiration: they make the tough stuff not only manageable, but meaningful.
Sometimes the untrodden path is exactly where we remember how alive we are.
