LIANNE SNOW: "Where was I?" is a question that's been coming up over and over in the last few years. It implies that I got lost. Clearly I am somewhere but like any path that has detour options (and non options) we can meander far and wide.

Have you ever been driving with a destination in mind but with such a lovely long time to reach it that it is possible to enjoy the scenic route, stopping for lunch, or a bit of shopping? Youth is like that. We have plenty of time to accomplish goals. Then, has it happened that a bit of confusion generated from unexpectedly winding roads challenge your sense of direction? A bit of construction can take you miles out of your way.

So after a time, it might be that you find yourself back at a place you recognize and instead of moving on, forward, nose to the ground, you pause. Just like hitting the pause button, you stop the action. This pause is not just about finding your way again, but really it's about arranging your way. It's time to re-assess, taking time into account, for it is easy to not only lose our way but even to forget our destination or that we ever had a plan.

Where was I? is a question we ask ourselves when we have become distracted and we wish to pick up the thread again. We were doing something important perhaps before an interruption took us miles from our outcome. In some cases we forget entirely that we were someplace else going somewhere vaguely defined.

When we were children we knew the path because our heart led us. We just did or played at doing what we loved. We didn't need the details. For instance, a young man, stuck in traffic on a city bus may feel the stuckness is in his life, not just on this bus. He may ask himself, Where was I? when in response a fire truck peels out and lights up in passing. From deep inside he might hear his voice respond, "Oh yeah, I wanted to be a fireman before I got sidetracked." The universe loves and supports us. I believe that. The trick, if any, is noticing the signs. Pause, Ask the question, watch and listen for the answer. I might add to that risk and trust. Like the 5 fingers on our hand, the path is within our grasp.

Synchronistic events are signposts along the way to guide us back. They underline what in our environment or our thoughts needs attention. It is the whisper in our ear to pay attention for important turns are coming up. We know it is our inner wisdom welcoming us back like a beloved teacher who awaits our return to the classroom after a period away. However important the lessons were to us we were out there learning, they are not the core of us. What feels magical about this is the complex arrangements that occur for us to connect to this wisdom. It feels like the world itself and everyone in it is pointing you to your path, nodding, smiling and clapping you on. Getting it right.

When you need to, take 5: pause, ask, watch and listen, risk, trust. It's useful to ask yourself the Where was I? question every once in a while because the question is answered from everywhere.