I’ve recently done a lot of traveling, and it’s made me really think about the importance of celebrating the journey.
Last week, I was in Sedona, Arizona.
We had a delayed flight home, which got us home much later than we expected.
And because of that delayed flight, I was at home for just four hours before I had to leave the house at 5:00 AM for a 6:30 AM flight to Boston.
Once in Boston, I got to Emma’s house with no sleep, packed up her entire house into one Jeep Wrangler, and then started driving.
As a side note, I have to say that it was pretty impressive how we were able to get everything to fit in that Jeep Wrangler. I don’t think there was one square inch of space left for anything else.
The first day, we drove for about 13 hours and made only two stops.
The second day, we had another 12 hours to go.
We’re spending the Fourth of July at home with the family. And tomorrow, we’re headed right back out again to drive to Nashville.
Olivia is starting law school there, and we are taking her all of her belongings and helping her move into her new apartment.
With all the driving ahead of me and behind me, I thought it would be fitting to talk about the importance of enjoying the journey.
We Need to Start Paying Attention
So much of our lives is taken up in going from point A to point B because that’s what we have to do.
We have to go to work in the morning. We have to go back and forth to school. We have doctor appointments and meetings of every kind.
We are constantly driving here, there, and everywhere.
But often, our thoughts are on the start and the finish, the beginning and the end, where we start and where we need to be.
Sadly, we tend to forget all the things in the middle that really make up the bulk of our day.
That is the journey I’m talking about—the middle.
I truly believe that if we stopped focusing on the destination and paid more attention to all the things in the middle, we would find greater joy there.
There is Magic in the Middle
Think about any major journey you’ve been on.
Sure, the end result was fantastic. But what about all the moments that led up to it?
Those late nights planning, the conversations along the way, the lessons learned—that’s where the real magic happens.
The process is where we dream, learn, and grow.
When we focus solely on the outcome, we miss out on all the wonderful things that can happen in the middle.
So, on my drive with Emma, we tried to find the magic in the middle.
We looked for landmarks.
We researched the little towns we drove through.
We used Spotify to create an AI playlist with an AI voice. (Okay, the voice was actually kind of creepy. But it worked, and it kind of sounded like a real DJ.)
We also played a license plate game to fill our time.
And guess what? The time went pretty fast, and we had fun. There really was so much magic in the middle.
With such a long drive, we could have been miserable the whole time.
I could have focused on my shin that was killing me because the cruise control in the car went out. I could have focused on my lack of sleep or the long road ahead.
But instead, I chose to focus on the time I got to spend with Emma—and there were so many magical moments because of it.
Focus on Making Memories
We made a conscious choice to look at all the interesting things around us as we made our journey.
In other words, we focused on making memories and finding joy in simply being together.
That simple focus can make all the difference.
I think that’s true with everything that we do in life.
When we focus way too much on the destination or how much time we have left to get there, we forget to enjoy all the parts in between.
Think about the stories you love to tell.
They’re often not just about where you ended up but about the experiences and adventures all along the way.
These memories are what make our lives meaningful.
By enjoying the journey, we create a lifetime of meaningful moments that we can look back on with so much joy.
Memories are made in the doing and the becoming that can only happen in the middle.
Enjoy the Moments
In our fast-paced world, it’s easy to get caught up in the rush to get somewhere.
But living in the present moment is so important for our mental well-being.
When we focus too much on our future destination, we miss out on the beauty of now.
We would all benefit if we just took a deep breath and appreciated where we are right now in our journey.
The more we enjoy the process, the more we’ll find that the journey itself can be incredibly rewarding.
Whether you’re headed to Starbucks or you’re going to work, I hope you learn to enjoy all the moments in between.
We only have so many moments in our lives, and too often, we forget to take advantage of every moment that comes.
The Journey is Where Life Happens
No matter where we’re headed, it’s in the journey where we find meaning and create lasting memories.
As we enjoy the journey, we’ll find that the end result is even sweeter.
Remember, life isn’t just about reaching the destination.
It’s about enjoying every step along the way.
So, celebrate your journey by finding joy in the moments and cherishing the experiences that shape you.
Never forget that the journey can be just as incredible as the destination.
It’s all about how you choose to find the magic in the middle.
