I picked up Oprah’s audiobook, The Path Made Clear: Discovering Your Life’s Direction and Purpose, after she made a post on IG saying it would be free until midnight. It encourages a little reflection and introspection so after about five chapters I paused and pondered.

“As I look back over my life, and I think things over, I can truly say that I’ve been blessed, I’ve got a testimony”

-Rev. Clay Evans – I’ve Got A Testimony lyrics

When I was about four, my six-year-old brother and I set out on an adventure. It was straight out of a cartoon.

We grabbed a backpack loaded up with my piggy bank and a box of cereal and set out for Cheltenham mall. We visited the arcade a few days prior with our mom and aunt and determined that we needed to live there. 

I don’t remember if my brother initiated the idea but I took the plan literally and I woke him up the next morning like, “you ready to go?” 

My grandmother was up cleaning out her closet and my parents were still sleeping. I don’t remember what we were wearing, what my hair looked like, or if we brushed our teeth before we left.

We walked 1.2 miles, crossed 15 residential streets, and one major commercial corridor to reach our destination.

Upon our arrival, we found two guys who were unloading a truck. They told us the mall hadn’t opened yet, asked where our parents were, and why we were there alone.

My brother wouldn’t answer any of their questions but I told them my name and telephone number. Our parents picked us up, my brother got in trouble and all of our relatives came over to see us.

My Path

I know it was a traumatic experience from my grandma and my parent’s perspective. I retell it nonchalantly because everyone laughs about it now and it’s just a fragmented memory for me.

As an adult, I recognize the danger of my first adventure. I have a testimony because that situation could have produced several different outcomes; however, at this moment, I recognized that my spirit has always yearned to “go”.

I know that wanderlust is a new term but it has always applied to me. Traveling to new places energizes and excites me.

This is important.

This powerful.

This is my purpose.

*Things and knickknacks are important too, but Dora could get pretty far with money and food.