“…one day you will look back and you will realize
that every experience you’ve ever had, every seeming mistake or blind alley
was actually a straight line to who you were meant to be.”
~ Richard Castle, played by Nathan Fillion,
Castle, “Hollander’s Woods,” Season 7, Episode 23

What this quote means to women entrepreneurs:
I will admit it: I am a Castle fan … in fact, I usually save them up on my TiVo and watch mini-marathons of episodes with a friend of mine. Last night, we finally watched the Season 7 finale, from which today’s quote is pulled.

It comes from a scene where Castle’s daughter is wondering if she will ever be as amazing as her father if she has no idea what her passion and purpose in life are. And his reply is touching on so many levels: As something a father says lovingly to his daughter; as a man looking back at his life and where it has brought him; and as a bit of inspiration for all of us in the audience.

Sometimes, I’ve looked back on my past and gotten mad at myself for making the decisions I’ve made, such as staying an extra 10 years with my ex-husband. But then, I look at all the experiences I had during those 10 years and how they have shaped me to be the pretty darn neat person that I am and I realize that those years weren’t necessarily wasted at all. In fact, they may very well have been key in my becoming the person I am today.

I challenge you to take a look at the “mistakes” you’ve made and explore whether you’d be who you are today if you had made another choice. All those missteps that lead you on what may have looked like a herky-jerky ride through life, may have actually been the milestones necessary to transform you into who you were meant to be.

Are there really blind alleys along life’s journey? I think not. What about you?

Now It’s Your Turn:
Do you agree with my interpretation of today’s quote? Why or why not? What are your thoughts on the mishaps, mistakes and missteps of your life journey? Would you be a different person if you hadn’t been through those experiences? Please share your ideas, experiences and sage wisdom in a comment below.