Leonardo Bertinelli

📜 Why be average?

NARRATIVES

September 26, 2024

There's always another way to fix a problem. Why pick the obvious one? Why go for the easy one? Why not try the hard or different one instead?

I usually push myself to go the other way. I can guess what's at the end of the easy road, but I'm curious about what's at the end of the different path. The road less traveled. The bumpy road. Sometimes, the 'hard' choice leads to the most peaceful experiences.

I prefer clear outcomes, but I've learned that life often offers rich, nuanced experiences instead. I don't like settling for the average path everyone takes. To me, embracing simple, off-the-beaten-track experiences is far from average, it's extraordinary in its own way.

This is probably why I don't like driving on highways. Instead of the clear, wide, busy road, I go for the quiet, messy, hard-to-follow narrow side road. The highway is the "known". The side road is the "unknown". You never know where a small street might take you. Tall buildings might hide a cool spot that only locals know about.

Once I was in England. I went to a small village for a training workshop about setting up sound systems for big concerts. The day after it ended, I had to drive back to Heathrow airport to fly home to Rome. I planned my trip so I could enjoy the morning before getting to the airport. I could take the quick highway trip or spend more time on side roads.

I still remember seeing a narrow road on the right. I turned on my blinker, slowed down, and turned. It was the start of a surprise journey. A hilly, narrow road wound through fields on both sides, with horses running free. As I drove on, tiny houses began to appear along the street. Eventually, a long downhill led me into a small town center. Just a cluster of houses, a church, one pub, and not much else.

That whole stretch was maybe 15 minutes, but it felt like hours. That's what the unknown does. Taking time, slowing down, making choices without rushing. It makes a new experience that fills your life with good memories. Simple, yeah, but special.