There’s a reason I stop blogging for the summer. Our minds need time to rest and reflect in order to do their best thinking. Part of what I enjoy the most about working in education is the cycle of the school year. I love the excitement of a new year, and I love the renewal of the summer season.
It also helps that summer vacations are ripe with ideas for the blogging mind.
This summer I got to go back to Estes Park in Colorado. It’s one of my favorite places but getting there (especially when you are pulling a 5th wheel) is quite a climb.
You’ve no doubt heard the expression. You’ve seen it on motivational posters. You’ve probably even said it from time to time.
It’s not about the destination. It’s about the journey.
It’s not about reaching the mountain top. It’s about the climb.
Great thought. Learning, training, improving at anything is truly a journey worthy in its own right. The value lies in how we grow and change and get better as human beings, not in the kudos or in the win. (Although the win feels pretty good when you’ve worked hard for it.)
I do believe that life is about the journey.
But sometimes, it is also about the destination.
I don’t really like travel days. I like to travel; I just don’t like the drive or the flight. Not many do I suppose. It is the price we pay to explore new places, to re-visit old favorites, and to look at the world through new eyes.
And it is totally worth it.
Life is that way. Sometimes we have to do things that aren’t a lot of fun. At work, at home, we have to run errands and do paperwork and spend countless hours on seemingly endless tasks. It is not fun. But the job, the home, the life is worth every second of it.
Yes, many times it’s not about the destination, it’s about the journey.
But sometimes, it really is about the reward for the effort.
I know that the end of summer can be hard. Hopefully you have been relaxing and playing and spending time with the people you love. Rest is a gift.
I also know that work with purpose and meaning done with like-minded people who you truly enjoy is also a gift. At least it is for me.
Embrace the journey, and embrace the destination. Remember your why and the rest tends to take care of itself.
Be That Person 