Steve my bad but, what exactly 'the bush' means in America? In some countries it indicates the Woods or the Wilderness in general. In Africa, it means the jungle.
I did follow different paths. When 7, I asked my mother to take me on a walk with boots, umbrella and winter jacket. Only it was a scorching august day! I remember vaguely that day, the jacket was Yellow. I insisted so much that my mother had to comply. I didn't know why I had that idea I only know I had to do that. I can go on with similar examples.
Sure I didn't mind opposition, if I decided I had to do something I did it, like eating vegetarian or going around with only a T shirt in wintertime with freezing temperatures. The strangest the best, although it had to be legitimate and not unhealthy, I did so many unusual things I can't remember them all now. Before the Rambo film came out, I donned military stuff and took along survival equipment in military pouches. I myself don't know why since I lived in a town with no Woods around.
Like in your case, Steve, my father was very taken aback that I did all that weird stuff.
In common life, walking the unbeaten path can give you a definite edge, or sometimes can be an hindrance, it depends.
You mentioned that some people are encouraged rather then discouraged by skepticism and denial of others.
Isn't this because we recognize that the skepticism and denial represent a conformity to ignorance and lack of ability to recognize a more progressive view of thinking and therefore acting?
That's a possible and sensible explanation.
That's one way to explain it,
