Are You Enjoying Your Life Journey?
By: Bill Abbate
Tags: Self Improvement, Journey, Life Lessons, Leadership, Life

How is your journey through life so far? Is it what you expected? Is it what you want?

Many people have repeated the old saying that life (or success) is a journey, not a destination. There is a great deal of truth therein, yet what does it really mean?

There are so many things to consider on this journey through life.

What is the journey through life?

When you go on a journey, you usually have a destination in mind, which begs the question, “Where are you going?” Before starting the journey, you pack essentials to take along. What are you carrying with you on your journey?

How long do you expect your journey to last? Will it be short or continue indefinitely? What planning have you done?

When you go on a journey, you may have one companion or more for part of the journey. Who are you taking on this journey with you? How much or what parts of the journey will include them?

“It’s your road, and yours alone. Others may walk with you, but no one can walk it for you.” Unknown

Excitement and adventure are an important part of most journeys. What excitement and adventure do you anticipate on yours? How can you add excitement and adventure?

Preparing for your journey

Some questions one could ask about going on a journey include, “Do I have the funds to get where I want to go?” “Will I need to work along the way?” What kind of work will I do during this journey?

Since you are already on the journey through life, what things are you carrying with you? Have you become so burdened with “stuff” it weighs you down? Is your journey nearing its end unless you shed some things so you can continue? Or perhaps your journey is simply near its end, and you will soon reach the final destination.

A major factor to consider for your journey, regardless of where you are in it, is your frame of mind and attitude. Is your frame of mind positive and open, or negative and closed? Your attitude is affected by how you see life and by what you anticipate. Do you foresee it being a struggle, mundane, exciting, adventurous? Do you expect to be happy or sad? Can you find and give love on the journey?

“Someone has well said, ‘Success is a journey, not a destination.’ Happiness is to be found along the way, not at the end of the road, for then the journey is over and it is too late. Today, this hour, this minute is the day, the hour, the minute for each of us to sense the fact that life is good, with all of its trials and troubles, and perhaps more interesting because of them.” Robert R. Updegraff

As inevitable trials come during your journey, realize as the miles pass, they too will pass. Use the trials as learning experiences for which you can be grateful. Learn to avoid or overcome them in the future, and find a way to bring joy into the journey because of them.

So long as you are alive and breathing, you will continue your life journey. How do you choose to be? Why not enjoy it? Why not look forward to it? Why not find all the happiness you can along the way?

“Life is a journey, and love is what makes that journey worthwhile.” Unknown

Final words

You only have one life, so why not make up your mind to enjoy it? Can you do that? Of course you can — if you choose to! Why not give some thought to the journey ahead of you. Ask yourself:

What do I want?

What are my desires?

What resources do I have?

Who’s going with me?

How will I be?

What is my ultimate destination?

“You can’t go back and change the beginning, but you can start where you are and change the ending.” — C.S. Lewis

How do you choose to approach your life journey? I leave you with a little wisdom from our old friend, the doctor: