It’s All About the Journey
“Do not go where the path may lead; go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.” Ralph Waldo Emerson
If you’ve never seen the story of the poor Mexican fisherman, it’s a classic well worth reading. The tale is a simple philosophical exchange about the circle of life, the meaning of success and the value of enjoying the moment. Almost every culture tells some variation of this story for the very simple reason that it’s a story that transcends all humanity.
My own version boils down to a journey and it’s reflected perfectly in what we’re doing right now. For me RVing is about the story of travel just the same as life. We drive the road with a spark of expectation of what we will see, a tinge of excitement for the next destination, but ultimately uncertain of what is to come and always with unexpected twists along the way. The last two things are the things that tend to stump us the most, and yet (in my mind) they’re the absolute key to a happy ride.
As humans it’s easy to fall into the trap of great expectations of an ultimate destination. We’ll push forward with all our energy to get to that shining goal only to be exhausted or disappointed that things didn’t turn out exactly as expected. In the meantime we missed the joy of all the interesting little experiences along the way-> the unusual stops, the spectacular views, the people we met, the barriers that led to side-stories…
In short, we missed the whole journey.
For me the journey is the prize. If you can enjoy the journey, you can enjoy life. Whatever the road may throw at you, if you’re able to stop and appreciate the moment you’ll never be disappointed in the destination. Our lives are but a short tale between birth and death. Whatever your life or your goals, embrace your story and make sure you stop and enjoy the trail along the way, even if it’s not the one you expected to be on.
After all in the end, it’s all about the journey…
Thank you for another beautiful Sunday meditation…wise and insightful. You have a gift… =)
So happy you enjoyed it! Nina
oops…I forgot to post this link. You might enjoy this article. It relates…
http://www.inspirationandchai.com/Regrets-of-the-Dying.html
WONDERFUL link and very inspirational.
Thank you so much for sharing!
Nina
Very well said. Sometimes I do forget it’s the journey not the destination.
@ WheelingIt — what a beautiful journey you are on. Thanks for the view from your window – it’s lovely indeed 🙂
Thank YOU for being along for the ride!
Nina
Nina, I hope I haven’t posted this here before, but I never tire of reading it as it was my husband’s favorite piece and it seems to fit the RV lifestyle perfectly. If I have, feel free to delete this post. You say the same thing in your own words. Thank you for such an insightful blog.
Oops, I forgot to post it! Gettin’ old!
Tucked away in our subconscious is an idyllic vision. We see ourselves on a long trip that spans the continent. We are traveling by train. Out the windows we drink in the passing scene of cars on nearby highways, of children waving at a crossing, of cattle grazing on a distant hillside, of row and row of corn and wheat, of flatlands and valleys, of mountains and rolling hillsides, of city skylines and village halls.
But uppermost in our minds is the final destination. On a certain day at a certain hour we will pull into the station. Bands will be playing and flags will be waving. Once we get there so many wonderful dreams will come true and pieces of our lives will fit together like a completed jigsaw puzzle. How restless we pace the aisles, damning the minutes for loitering – waiting, waiting, waiting for the station.
“When we reach the station, that will be it!” we cry, “When I’m 18, when I buy a new Mercedes Benz, when I put the last kid through college, when I reach the age of retirement, I shall live happily ever after!”
Sooner or later we must realize there is no station, no one place to arrive at once and for all. The true joy of life is the trip. The station is only a dream. It constantly outdistances us.
“Relish and enjoy every single moment!” is a good motto. It isn’t the burdens of today that drive men mad. It is the regret over yesterday and the fear of tomorrow. Regret and fear are twin thieves who rob us of today.
So, stop pacing the aisles and counting the miles. Instead, climb more mountains, eat more ice cream, go barefoot more often, swim more rivers, watch more sunsets, laugh more, cry less. Life must be lived as we go along. The station will come soon enough.
…Robert Hastings
I love, love, love this piece. So beautifully and eloquently written
and very inspirational indeed. Thanks for posting it!
Nina
my sentiments exactly…it is always about the journey ……
You definitely have the roamin’ spirit!
Nina
Kind of reminds me of the difference between sail boats and powerboats. I’ve sailed/driven both, but any time a powerboat would race past us on Lake Ontario, (and we were sailing….) we’d just say, “Well, guess they’re racing off to where the “fun” is, wherever that might be”. Meanwhile we were having a grand old time making the boat go…
It’s always about the journey.
Excellent!! I love the analogy!! So right on!
Nina
well said!