Signposts

A young man took it upon himself to travel, so that he might experience the world and see wonders, and thereby learn the things that could not be taught in books. So he took with him the things he thought he might need upon the way, and set his feet upon the road. Soon, he came to a crossroads, and, since he had no particular desire to choose, he asked the signpost which way he should go. "If I could," said the signpost, "I would follow the right-hand road, for many people travel there, and I would see what interests them so."

So the young man turned right, and followed the road the signpost had suggested. Soon, he came upon another crossroads. Again, he asked the signpost for directions. "I would turn left," the signpost said, "for I have often heard singing in that direction and have wondered what would bring such joy."

So the young man did as the signpost said, and turned left. Eventually, he came to another crossing. "I would continue in this direction," the signpost answered his query, "for few travel that road, and it seems a mystery."

The young man continued in this fashion, taking direction from the signposts along the way, for they always had good reason for the directions that they would choose, if they could. Until one day, he discovered that he was no longer young, and he looked back along his path and saw that though he had traveled far, he had gone nowhere, and he was no wiser, for his experiences were not his, and the wonders he saw were not the ones he would have chosen.