Life’s Exit Ramps

One of my dearest friends has faced serious illness many times, each encounter offering her a threshold moment. She speaks of them as “off ramps” times when she could choose the option to leave. Each time, she chose to stay. I’ve come to wonder if we all encounter such moments when the soul quietly offers us an exit, and we decide whether to take it or continue on.

My own off ramp came in the form of a heart attack. It could have been sudden and final, but instead it unfolded in a way that ensured I received immediate help. The timing and circumstances meant I survived, and I believe my soul orchestrated it that way. That was not my exit.

Not long after, I heard about the man on a neighboring farm. He was working outside in the sweltering heat when symptoms began. A friend urged him to go to the ER, but he declined, saying he had a doctor’s appointment the next morning. He never made it. I wonder whether on some level his inner knowing saw the off ramp and chose to take it.

Life often reminds me how thin the line is between continuing and exiting. On the freeway, I’ve had near misses with other cars. Split-second moments that left me flooded with gratitude for being spared. Sometimes I feel the hand of unseen forces steering me clear. Other times, it’s something as simple as missing a turn on the GPS, forcing a recalculation, a reminder that there are always other ways forward.

I know now that I’ve passed by one of life’s off ramps, and instead of exiting, I’m still on the

highway, moving with a sense of freedom toward a destination that feels new. The familiar road no longer calls to me. Instead, I’m listening closely for the deeper voice within, guiding me toward a path where I can live with greater purpose.

And so I wonder: If you knew your final exit was near, what would you do differently today?

A Blessing for the Journey:

May you be guided safely toward the highest purpose for your life.

-Robin