The Journey Matters, Not Just the Destination
How important it is to appreciate the journey and serendipity, even when we just want answers and certainty!
At the moment, I am pursuing a specific deadlined goal of finding a new home. The search is exhausting, with many twists and turns, hopes and disappointments, and miles of walking neighborhoods I didn’t even know existed.
Along the way, surprising new opportunities and friendships have appeared, revealing meaning in the journey itself. By being present to meet this goal, I am in exactly the right place for serendipitous encounters… a big blinking sign that I’m on the right path!
How often do we allow the journey itself to be meaningful? How often do we talk to strangers, striking up new friendships in unfamiliar spaces? How often do we focus on what isn’t done, while missing the beauty and opportunity of what would never have been discovered if we had already accomplished the goal?
If this housing search had been resolved with the first place I visited, I would have missed so many amazing connections and discoveries that have appeared since. While there have been frustrations, my life is richer for the journey. My community and inspirations have grown.
These moments (and encouraging friends!) help me continue taking steps forward with optimism, trusting that things will work out – which they always do, when I allow myself to embrace synchronicity.
Sometimes I just need to be reminded of that simple truth. Don’t we all?
Tags: inspiration, journey, life, serendipity, synchronicity, trust
September 23rd, 2009 at 2:05 am
Reminds me of a particular Incubus song – “Nowhere Fast.” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JJuBzAtHX2M
And that’s not meant to be discouraging. The song/its lyrics for me are encouraging.
I certainly feel you on this topic at any rate.
One could say – the journey is a destination in itself, no?
September 24th, 2009 at 8:51 pm
I like that, Michaelangelo! The journey is our moment by moment destination. The past is gone and the future is speculation. The present is where we create our lives.
Those are great lyrics, too. Sometimes it certainly does feel like going nowhere fast… or spending all day slowing down on achy feet! It takes perseverance and courage to keep moving forward, recognizing that each choice is perfect for what we need to learn in life, to release ourselves from what if or regret.