A short YouTube reflection by Brian Johnson in which he recites Robert Frost's "The Road Not Taken," relates its message to Joseph Campbell’s idea about following one’s own path, and briefly mentions Maya Angelou’s poems as recommended further reading. The piece is framed as part of Johnson’s "Heroic One" series and closes with a personal aside to viewers.
Hi, this is Brian. Welcome back to another heroic one. In our last few ones, we've spent some time soaking our souls in some of the most inspiring poems ever. We started with if by Rudyard Kipling, then Dreams by Langston Hughes, and then some Walden wisdom from Thoreau on advancing confidently in the direction of our dreams. Today we're going to enjoy some poetic Robert Frost wisdom. You know which one I'm talking about? Yep. It's time for the Road Not Taken. As Frost tells us, two roads diverged in a yellow wood, and sorry I could not travel both and be one traveler long I stood and looked down one as far as I could to where it bent in the undergrowth, Then took the other as just as fair and having perhaps the better claim because it was grassy and wanted wear. Though as for that, the passing there had warned them really about the same. And both that morning equally lay in leaves no step had trodden black. Oh, I kept the first for another day. Yet knowing how way leads on to way, I doubted if I should ever come back. I shall be telling this with a sigh. Some were ages and ages hence. Two roads diverged in a wood and I I took the one less traveled by and that has made all the difference. Now that reminds me of Joseph Campbell and some of his wisdom from a Joseph Campbell companion. Check out those notes. Know this Campbell tells us, I quote. You enter the forest at the darkest point where there is no path. Where there is a way or a path, it is someone else's path. You are not on your own path. If you follow someone else's way, you are not going to realize your potential. That that's Frost. Road Less Taken. Let's take the next step in our heroic quest, hero together today. P.S. ladies, I know you all want me to spend some more time with female authors and you'd like to see some female author poems. Well, I love Maya Angelou's Phenomenal Woman and still I rise. But I'd feel more than a little weird reading them, so please accept my apologies and enjoy them on their own. They're linked in this plus one. Gentlemen, check those out. I just shared Phenomenal Woman with my Phenomenal Woman Target Swipe Send Wifey Love note.
