Nothing
is more disheartening on a road trip than getting lost. I can clearly
recall the frustration of becoming disoriented or “turned around” in
some places, and how vulnerable and stupid I felt in those
moments. Nothing seemed to make sense and every move I made appeared to
create more confusion.
Being
bewildered or flummoxed in the journey of life is like that. On those
occasions when I felt I had lost my sense of direction and purpose, the
world seemed gray and every turn seemed to take me nowhere. I felt
insecure and I worried that others could easily take advantage of
me. Until I regained my bearings, life was a blur and all progress
stopped.
When
it comes to road trips, and to living with joy and fulfillment, an
average compass is far more valuable than a superior speedometer. As
long as we are moving forward on the right road it is seldom helpful to
fret about the pace. I must admit that I have spoiled many a family trip
over the years by obsessing over how quickly we were “getting there.”
- “No, we can’t stop and see that. If we do, we’ll never get there.”
- “Yes, I’m sure that would be interesting, but it’s a bit out of the way.”
- “I know you’re hungry, but we have just a couple of hours before we get to our hotel.”
At
this stage of my life, I am trying to remember that worrying over
velocity is a happiness-inhibitor. That’s because the joy is in the
journey, not in “arriving” and absolutely NOT in arriving sooner.
The
truth is we never do arrive — at least not in this life. Happiness is
in a direction, not a place. Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr. observed, “The
greatest thing in this world is not so much where we are, but in what
direction we are moving.”
Thus,
while speed doesn’t matter, movement does. The essence of life is
movement. Nehru said, “We live in a wonderful world that is full of
beauty, charm and adventure. There is no end to the adventures we can
have if only we seek them with our eyes open.”
One
of the keys to a successful life is getting clear about where we are
and where we should be going. “Sharing a clear and concise vision spawns
a sense of purpose and direction.” Farshad Asl.
Thereafter,
we need to check our compass periodically and, if necessary, adjust our
path. From time to time, we need to take our bearings and confirm that
the way we are going is taking us toward our vision and
dreams. Otherwise, as Lao Tzu warned, “if you do not change direction,
you may end up where you are heading.”
As
we journey through life, we will reach meaningful milestones from time
to time. Reaching them and acknowledging them re-energizes us and helps
us appreciate our progress. We should celebrate those moments, but we
must resist the temptation to abandon the journey there, thinking we’ve
reached the end of the road. The minute we throw away our compass and
decide that life holds no further adventure for us, we are doomed by our
own self-fulfilling prophecy. We condemn ourselves to a dull and
lifeless existence. “If you think adventure is dangerous, try
routine. It is lethal.” Paulo Coelho.
As
for myself, I intend to enjoy the journey and relish the adventure. I
aim to love my fellow travelers and help them along the way. I plan to
consult my compass from time to time and move steadily in the direction
of my dreams. I am determined to stay alive my entire life, hopefully
preparing for the great adventure that lies beyond.
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