Several times throughout my childhood our family road tripped from our home in Maryland to Orlando, Florida, a very long drive that took the better part of two days to complete.  Prone to car sickness if I tried to read or engage in any other activities requiring my visual focus within the vehicle, I spent much of those seemingly endless hours staring out the window simply taking in the scenery we passed along the way.  Once I grew bored with counting cows and mile markers, my attention would shift to the billboards that littered the rural landscape. By far my favorite ad campaign had to be for “South of the Border,” a kitchsy roadside attraction located just below the North Carolina state line in Dillon, South Carolina.

These iconic road signs began to appear sporadically just south of the D.C. metropolitan area and increased in frequency the closer we got to South of The Border.  Featuring their mascot Pedro and displaying corny sayings such as “Pedro’s Weather Report: Chili Today – Hot Tamale!,” “Keep Yelling Kids (They’ll Stop!),” and “Give Pedro The Business!,” the billboards were designed to capture the attention of travelers and lure them into stopping at the tacky but endearing tourist trap.

While the venue always did intrigue me, my brother and I never did yell and my parents never did stop to see what the hype was all about, the billboards definitely spiced up an otherwise dull ride down Interstate 95.  

These entertaining road signs not only kept boredom at bay for a large portion of the car ride but more importantly served as guideposts during our trip.  Guideposts that, when seen, offered me the assurance we were still headed in the right direction. And, when paid attention to, guideposts that brought joy to the journey and made the adventure a much more fun and interesting experience.

On this journey we call life, there is more than meets the eye. Unfortunately, it’s all too easy to become so blinded by the demands of our fast-paced and noisy world that we lose sight of the beauty that lies beneath the surface.  That’s why it’s so important to take the time to discover, explore, and experience The Deep Life.  I’ve discovered five guideposts that can aid you in that journey.  Guideposts that, when seen, can offer you the assurance you’re still headed in the right direction.  And, when paid attention to, guideposts that can bring joy to the journey and make the adventure a much more fun and interesting adventure.

Here are the 5 Guideposts for Deep Life Living:

1. Be Intentional
2. Follow Your Own Road Map
   
3. Connect With Your Fellow Travelers
4. Schedule Regular Rest Stops
5. Make a Difference

I will be exploring each of these guideposts in more detail in the coming months, so stay tuned!  In the meantime, sit back, relax and enjoy the ride!

PS – In case you were wondering, my curiosity was eventually satisfied years later en route home from a college spring break trip to Orlando when my friends and I made a middle-of-the-night pit stop at South of The Border.  The stop provided a few good laughs and a bit of bad coffee to sustain us throughout the remainder of our drive back to the University of Maryland campus!