The Journey

We left Wisconsin early Wednesday morning.  It was 15 degrees outside as we finished packing the car and set off for our trip back to North Carolina.  We had coffee and cookies with my brother and sister-in-law and said our goodbyes, picked up some Wisconsin cheese for friends and started on the long drive.  In the past when we made this trip, I was all about getting there quickly and I would drive 1000 miles with two or three stops, my focus was on the goal.  It was a race.

This trip was different.  We decided to live the advice of  Ralph Waldo Emerson and Aerosmith who both tell us to make life about the journey, not the destination.  This time we stopped in Ohio for dinner with Gary’s brother and his wife.  It was delightful to catch up, exchange Christmas gifts, share a meal and a glass of wine with this couple who are important in our lives.  I am so glad we made the time and it reaffirmed that spending time with those you care about, in person, is what makes connection.

We spent the night along the road, then a leisurely breakfast before starting out again.  For lunch, we planned a stop I’d recommend to anyone who likes either good food or local arts and crafts.  Tamarack, in Beckley, West Virginia is huge and has some of the best artisans of the state represented.  They also have a world class cafeteria with specials that included locally sourced foods, deliciously prepared.  We didn’t try to set speed records, we enjoyed the lovely views of the mountains and the cities along the way and still got home before dark.

This is not just the case with literal journeys.  We need to pause and think about those little things that make each day special rather than racing for the weekend or the vacation, retirement, or whatever it is that we are looking forward to.  Living in the moment may sound trite or even selfish, but it truly is all that we have.  None of us know what tomorrow may bring, so we’d do well to make this “precious present” the best that it can be.