When Things Aren't Going Right, Go Left

“When Things Aren’t Going Right, Go Left” by Marc Colagiovanni, with art by Peter H. Reynolds, shares how one’s fears can get in the way, and sometimes going another “way,” for lack of a better word, is the best solution. Deciding to go left isn’t about the actual direction, but about leaving things behind and stepping forward into a happier, more understanding place.

Every time the little kid in the story leaves something behind, it becomes personified. For example, when he leaves behind his worries, they ask him where’s he’s going. They desperately want him to come back, to be stuck with them. This is a bit reminiscent of the doldrums in “The Phantom Tollbooth” and how they are set on keeping him there indefinitely. The boy is too smart for this tactic, though, and even though he questions himself as he continues to walk away, he decides to also leave his doubts behind. They are equally unhappy with his decision, as are his fears, and they all keep pestering him in their own way, eating away at his peace of mind, but he realizes that the more he goes left and leaves things behind that are not good for him, the more right he feels.

The quote at the end of the book by author Marc Colagiovanni sums the story up best: “When life’s burdens start to feel too heavy … don’t be afraid to put them down for a while.” There will always be fears, frustrations, worries, and a variety of other problems that present themselves, but knowing how to deal with them and shake them off to move forward to a better, brighter place is so important.