Are We There Yet? vol. 46

There is a lot of talk these days about journeys and destinations. Quotes about focusing not just on the destination but also enjoying the journey abound. This destination/journey dilemma is not a recent phenomenon. “Life is a journey, not a destination” is attributed to American author, Ralph Waldo Emerson. Even earlier, Confucius is quoted as saying “roads were made for journeys not destinations.” The premise is that humans spend far too much time thinking about what will happen when they reach some destination than staying in the present and enjoying that journey. I know that I often fall into the trap of focusing too much on the future. I always attributed those journey and destination quotes to be important because sometimes the destination is not all that we thought it would be. For me, the example is New Year’s Eve in which many set high expectations for a very fun and life changing pivot from one year to the next and it ends up being just another day. 

A couple of weeks ago, while on a walk in Vermont through a snowy forest, my wife, Jen, and I were talking about the future and all the places we wanted to go later in our lives. We envisioned the enjoyable, relaxing things that we will do. But, another thought crept into my mind. Sometimes, we actually don’t get to the destination we imagined. If I think back just ten years, life was totally different. Not worse or better, just different. So, without any assurances of what the future will bring, why focus on those destinations. The present is far more interesting when I concentrate on what is happening now. New friends and acquaintances, new interests, or just raising my awareness about what is happening all around me every day, even in a pandemic, is pretty interesting and stimulating. 

Here’s to those journeys and enjoying each step along the way.

 

This week’s selection is:



VIDEO:

Lupin (Netflix)

A retelling of the classic French story about Arsène Lupin, the world-famous gentleman thief and master of disguise.