Yesterday, my daughter and I took a road trip to see a traveling art exhibit. This particular event was in a city that was a three hour drive away. It was a beautiful, sunny day, and most of our drive was through very scenic countryside.
As soon as we arrived, we realized that the exhibition wasn’t quite what we were expecting. We decided to make the most of it and we took our time and saw everything. Afterwards, we had planned to try a restaurant that was recommended to us by some friends who live in that city. By some fluke, that didn’t work out, so we ended up eating at one of our favorite restaurant chains.
We got in the car and started our drive home. Just like our drive there, we had fun listening to music, visiting, and enjoying the beautiful scenery. About halfway home, I mentioned to my daughter how I had enjoyed everything about the day but just wished that the exhibit had been better given the long drive.
Without missing a beat, my daughter said, “Do you remember what happened the first time you and dad went to Hawaii? You took that drive along a scenic road and you were in such a rush to get to the end that you missed everything along the way. It was about the journey, not the destination. I think today has been about the journey.”
The truth that my daughter shared was so profound! It resonated completely with me. My perspective immediately changed. I decided to focus on the quality time I was spending with my adult daughter. I also became grateful for the nearly two hours we had left on our drive and the beautiful scenery.
Isn’t this a common thing that inadvertently happens to us? We get so busy with life that we focus on the destination. We forget that a destination isn’t a stopping point, it’s just a marker along our journey. We forget that it’s what we experience during the journey that is what is really meaningful and lasting.
It’s about the journey, not the destination. So relax and enjoy the journey.
Tanya Vezza 