Monday, March 23, 2015

The shortest route is not always the quickest

The shortest path is not alway the quickest or best way.

Maneuvering through life is always a challenge when new experiences are unfolding.
        Most of my life has been anticipating the arrival.
I have cheated myself out of the joy of the journey, because the journey is also the destination.
The journey is more important than the destination because the way we achieve that goal shapes our perspective on the goal.
I was recently giving directions for my home in Escalante Utah and it dawned on me that the shortest route is not always the quickest.
My haste to get to the destination has left me wanting and my new resolve is to savor the journey as much as the destination.
There are many roads that lead us down the path of life, each varied and filled with wondrous adventures. The joy we feel in that experience is as much a part of our experience as the final destination.
Take time to enjoy the journey, stop at the scenic lookouts, visit the wayside parks, smell the flowers and notice the birds and animals along the way.
Get out of the hustle and bustle of the city and find your bliss.
I often walk through the cemeteries when I visit new places, for me they are a respite from the clamor and noise that accompanies most cities. 
Ultimately, a cemetery is the final destination for most of us.
        The end is not the prize, it is what lies in-between that holds the greatest treasure.

If and when I finally pass over, I want it to be written that, “Here lies an adventurer, he took the time to savor the journey and was not afraid to smell the roses.”