Its never about the destination...
I had lunch with my wife and a wonderful young couple today! The food was pleasant but the company was infinitely greater... at some point the conversation turned to the far off and future and I posed the statement, "life is in the journey, not the destination!" I truly believe that but still find it a hard axiom to live out. Even at my age, I am still compelled to look into the days ahead to find some nondescript pivot point to fix my gaze on only to determine that actually getting to the place is how/where the lessons are learned.
I have determined that I am not the first, nor will I be the last to ponder this thought, but I do find it curious that I often stop and reassess my direction usually from a location past and not future...why is this? I think it is because we, at least in our hearts, want to enjoy the ride as much as our imagination's long for where the ride leads us to... the memories live on long after we have packed away our travel bag. Throughout most of life's circumstances we find the joys of living in events and activities as we are getting to somewhere; the somewhere is usually the afterthought! You may be saying, "we know this already; what is your point?" The point is relish the ride! Breath deep...the air may be different when you get to where you are going.
Do you remember the first thing you thought about immediately following your high school graduation... I literally mean as you walked out the door... It was probably some philosophical banter about the world being at your fingertip and yours for the taking! Every thought was to the "destination!" Fast forward some years later, and reflect on the miles between then and now. If you are like me, some answers are found in goals and tasks long completed, accomplishments and failures, or changes in our plans that afford new starts or redirection! But still, what fruit remains of your long ago fascination with the future as you were tossed away the mortar board and robe? The memories that have been created on the way! Life happened, even as you were dreaming about it getting started!
So, is there a point to all this? Yes and it is this simple:
I have determined that I am not the first, nor will I be the last to ponder this thought, but I do find it curious that I often stop and reassess my direction usually from a location past and not future...why is this? I think it is because we, at least in our hearts, want to enjoy the ride as much as our imagination's long for where the ride leads us to... the memories live on long after we have packed away our travel bag. Throughout most of life's circumstances we find the joys of living in events and activities as we are getting to somewhere; the somewhere is usually the afterthought! You may be saying, "we know this already; what is your point?" The point is relish the ride! Breath deep...the air may be different when you get to where you are going.
Do you remember the first thing you thought about immediately following your high school graduation... I literally mean as you walked out the door... It was probably some philosophical banter about the world being at your fingertip and yours for the taking! Every thought was to the "destination!" Fast forward some years later, and reflect on the miles between then and now. If you are like me, some answers are found in goals and tasks long completed, accomplishments and failures, or changes in our plans that afford new starts or redirection! But still, what fruit remains of your long ago fascination with the future as you were tossed away the mortar board and robe? The memories that have been created on the way! Life happened, even as you were dreaming about it getting started!
So, is there a point to all this? Yes and it is this simple:
- Honestly and earnestly work towards determining who you are!
- Develop the best you that you can be!
- Don't take you so seriously...you need to laugh too!
- Make sure you enjoy the ride...wherever it takes you!
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