Nadine J Walters – My Life

Day 13 Question for Myself: When, where, how, and why do I get lost? And is that OK?

My Answer: First of all, yes—I do get lost, and I always have. It’s not because I’ve gotten older; it’s just who I am. I’ve never been someone who thinks in absolutes. I live in the gray, always questioning, always exploring. So, I allow myself to get lost, to feel lost, and even to indulge in being lost. I may lose my way, but I always find it again.

This question came to me this morning while I was walking and listening to a podcast. Later, as I sat through a painting presentation, the word lost surfaced again. It just keeps showing up! But what does it actually mean for me?

I get lost in the literal sense—I have no sense of direction and never have. The greatest inventions of all time, in my opinion, are GPS and Google Maps. But there’s another kind of lost—the mental, emotional, and spiritual kind. And I feel that too.

I used to think that by the time I reached 60, I’d have found myself. Yet here I am in my 70s, still wandering the metaphorical woods, still searching for direction. But maybe that’s not a flaw—it’s just who I am. I’m a lifelong learner. I refuse to get stagnant. I’m not set in my ways, and I really couldn’t care less about how I should act. Maybe I still have a bit of a rebellious streak, but I like to think I’m a rebel with a cause.

That cause? Being a kind and caring human being.

And yet, sometimes, I get lost in how I approach those who aren’t kind and caring. I get lost in worry about others. I’m no Mother Teresa, and I’ll admit—sometimes my inner Karen makes an appearance. That’s when I feel the most lost—when I lose my compassion, my empathy, my humanity.

That’s not OK.

Losing my direction? OK. Losing focus? Sure. Even losing my mind on occasion? Fine.

But losing my sense of self? That’s the one thing I hope I never misplace

Getting lost isn’t always a bad thing. Sometimes, it’s where we grow, where we learn, where we evolve. But in all the wandering, the detours, and the uncertainty, the most important thing is to never lose sight of who we are at our core. Because at the end of the day, that’s the one thing worth holding onto.