My daughter, David Bowie passed away today, so here’s a lesson from “Labyrinth,” the film that introduced me to that shape-shifting artist. In the movie, Sarah wishes the goblin king (played by Bowie) would take away her crying baby brother. So, the king does. To get the boy back, she has to travel to the center of a dangerous labyrinth in 3 days or lose her baby brother forever. Sarah’s first test gives her two paths she could take. Just as she’s about to go down one, a talking worm (it’s a weird film) warns her that way is dangerous and suggests she take the other path. She thanks the worm and goes the other way. “Phew,” says the worm, “if she had gone that way (the first way), she would have ended up at the center of the labyrinth.” WHAT! That’s where she needed to go to save her brother! Her journey would have been so easy! But would it? If she had taken the shorter path, there would be no movie. There would be no friendships made (like Ludo or Hoggle). There would be no dance magic and Bowie lyrics I still remember decades later. Most importantly, there would be no change of Sarah’s heart, which allows her to defeat the goblin king. It turns out Sarah is only able to save her brother because she unknowingly chose the longer journey through the labyrinth. So listen, my daughter, you’ll come across a number of forks in the road, and you’ll wish you could take the shortest path to the center of the labyrinth. Maybe that center is a career choice, or a new skill you’re trying to acquire, or a relationship you’re trying to save, or some form of self discovery and individuation. Whatever it is, don’t let your urgency for the center make you miss the valuable parts of the longer journey. Yes, some “wrong” turns should be avoided if possible, particularly those that are destructive to you and your relationships. And some journeys should be traveled as fast as possible, like recovery from addictions and destructive life situations. But, as best you can, absorb all good things that come your way along the longer routes you travel. They will prepare you for what lies at the center of the labyrinth…and the journey beyond it. #DavidBowie #fatherlessons #parenting