It is the journey that makes the destination all the more enjoyable. 

At least, that is something I wrote about ten years ago, before I actually started ‘writing’.  It was a phrase that came to me when I would catch myself trying to hurry through life.  I referred to it often when I was trying to figure out the million dollar “what next” question.

It seems that in the hurried rush of the holidays and the never ending push for the next latest and greatest of …whatever…. we overlook those small details…..  the kind of details that make the difference between an activity or an experience.  We are all guilty of driving too fast, ignoring a phone call, running the ‘yellow’ light, and using e-mail rather than picking up the phone. 

It’s a common dilemma, really.  How do we not lose sight of those small details in the midst of the everyday chaos that is the unfortunate norm of our life?  How do we find those quiet moments to reflect when the dogs need to go out, those Christmas cards need filled out and mailed, and you just have to pick up one last thing for the family holiday dinner?

It is true, that I’ve never been one to get from point A to point B using a straight line.  In fact, I am probably more likely to hit point L or point S before getting to point B. The line for me has never been straight, but it has always taken me to places that have added a bit of flavor to my character.   I often wonder where I would be if I hadn’t taken all those twists and turns in the road.    

 So as I approach this holiday season and the ending of another amazing year, I find myself, yet again, embarking on a brand new adventure.  As one year ends and another begins, I fight the urge to want to hurry up and get there.  But I worry that in the meantime, I’m forgetting to sit and breathe and take in all the little details of today. Reflection takes a conscious effort- opportunities don’t just appear right before your eyes.  Most likely, you have to find those moments of reflection in the middle of some other crazy time.   What do they say, ‘when you’re dealt lemons make lemonade.’  You can find moments for reflection while you’re getting your hair done, while you are standing in one of those obnoxious department store lines, or while you are waiting for a parking spot to open. 

I DO believe that the journey defines your destination…at least to what level you appreciate and savor it.  I often wonder if it’s even a good thing to be the first one to reach the finish line.  Personally, I’d like to re-define the race entirely where a winner is determined not by time or efficiency but by the breadth and depth of one’s character.