Many years ago I was a Brownie Leader. I loved working with the girls and was happy to help teach various skills in the weekly meetings. My favourite part was teaching songs, singing games and folk dances. I spent hours at home learning these, so I could pass them along to the girls.

When one of the more outdoorsy leaders organized a hike to introduce wilderness skills to the girls, I was out of my comfort zone. I had zero experience in this area but knew I could rely on her confidence and expertise.

The day of the hike, each girl and leader had a compass. My job was to bring up the rear of the group to ensure there were no stragglers. It was a relief to know I only had to follow the others. At the top of the trail, my co-leader asked everyone to look at their compass and point to the north. I pulled mine out and confidently pointed, only to find I was opposite to everyone else. My compass had reverse polarity and I didn’t know it.

If I had been relying on my compass as a guide, not only would I have become lost, but so would everyone who trusted me to lead the way.

When I’m part of a group it’s too easy to follow blindly instead of paying proper attention. This is not a good thing. As I learned with the compass, I also need to be aware of my surroundings and direction.

Sometimes in life my internal compass is off. Even a slight deviation can magnify in time to become a huge change in direction. If I’m not paying attention I end up somewhere I didn’t want to be.

Lately, I seem to have been going in circles. Even though I’m moving, I find myself back in the same spot and have to start all over. It’s time to recalibrate my internal compass, find true north and confidently set off on my journey.