Many
of us think that life is about getting somewhere, that there are so many things
to accomplish, many things to obtain.
We're
suppose to become something, someone. We should climb some mountains, travel
down some roads.
It's
true that when climbing a mountain, it's nice to reach the top, get a sense of
satisfaction and accomplishment. But what about the wonderful view spreading
beneath us? Do we ever stop to look at it, or are we too anxious to reach our
goal?
And
when we do, do we look down there, take a deep breath, take in all the beauty,
allow ourselves to appreciate the long way we've come, or are we busy looking
for the next peak?
It
seems like all we think about is the target: our eyes always on the map, finger
glued to our final destination, that we're most likely to trip over a stone and
fall…
How
about looking around, enjoying the view, smelling the flowers, sitting down on
a rock and having a sandwich, stretching our legs, resting?
Do
you ever feel that you're always on the way to somewhere, but that you're never
"there"?
"Life
is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans." Said John
Lennon
I
believe life is about living, not about getting somewhere.
Life
is the travelling, climbing, experimenting, experiencing. And it is about
learning: everywhere, all the time. Learning the world, learning yourself. And
all this learning can only be done by the travelling. There's no learning in
the "getting". You get the "getting" only after you've done
some travelling.
And
then there are the expectations: we imagine great things "when…":
when we'll finish university, when we are older, when we'll "find the
one" or have children or have this desired job or win the lottery. When…then
everything will be perfect, our life will be perfect, we'll be perfect.
But
do we ever reach the "when…"? Do we ever feel that THIS is what we
were waiting for, what we've expected? Or do we rush to look for our next
objective, next goal?
The
journey is its own reward. Just like the famous cult movie "the wizard of
Oz", it's not the wizard who gave the main characters what they were
looking for, it's the journey they've been through that made them grow, learn
and most of all – learn to appreciate themselves. Even thought they weren't
perfect.
Maybe
it's time to have less "to-do" lists, feel less stressed and worried
like we're missing something, like we should be doing or having something that
we don't. Maybe we can just be from time to time, maybe we can stop to
smell the flowers (while we're still above the groundJ).
Maybe
we can enjoy the moment. All the moments which make a life.
A
wonderful Greek poet said it before me, and with much finer choice of words.
Thank you Rosita for introducing me to the Great Kavafis.
ITHACA
/ K.P. Kavafis
As you set out for Ithaca
hope that your journey is a long one,
full of adventure, full of discovery.
Laistrygonians and Cyclops,
angry Poseidon-don't be afraid of them:
you'll never find things like that on your way
as long as you keep your thoughts raised high,
as long as a rare sensation
touches your spirit and your body.
Laistrygonians and Cyclops,
wild Poseidon-you won't encounter them
unless you bring them along inside your soul,
unless your soul sets them up in front of you.
Hope that your journey is a long one.
May there be many summer mornings when,
with what pleasure, what joy,
you come into harbors you're seeing for the first time;
may you stop at Phoenician trading stations
to buy fine things,
mother of pearl and coral, amber and ebony,
sensual perfume of every kind-
as many sensual perfumes as you can;
and may you visit many Egyptian cities
to learn and learn again from those who know.
Keep Ithaca always in your mind.
Arriving there is what you're destined for.
But do not hurry the journey at all.
Better if it lasts for years,
so that you're old by the time you reach the island,
wealthy with all you have gained on the way,
not expecting Ithaca to make you rich.
Ithaca gave you the marvelous journey.
Without her you would have not set out.
She has nothing left to give you now.
And if you find her poor, Ithaca won't have fooled you.
Wise as you will have become, so full of experience,
you will have understood by then what these Ithacas mean.
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