The saying “life’s a journey, not a destination” has always produced bile in my mouth. So condescending and trite. Yea, I get it. I get it like you’re smacking a brick against my temple. And you’re wrong.
Without a destination in mind, we are aimless and adrift, lacking in purpose or intent. We need something to overcome, we need to will ourselves towards something. And while the actual overcoming happens during the journey, that doesn’t happen until we draw a bead on something and identify it as important.
Haphazard circumstance is amazing when randomness configures a seemingly serendipitous plan. I get it — look no further than the origin of this web site’s name. But when you are adrift, there is no journey. Years blow by and nothing gets better, it keeps getting worse.
From Noon Peak’s cliffs, Jennings Peak, and Sandwich Dome, I spied my destination off in the distance. The journey made me aware that — I got this — despite my current condition. But locking into a destination and deciding to go for it got me putting one foot in front of the other.
Without one there isn’t the other.
A destination is powerful. Why go on a journey, any ways? Because it’s there? Because it’s still there? Because I love it? Perhaps. Or rather, because I need to. The journey is irrelevant as long as I am on one, as long as something is important enough to pursue.
One thought on “Sandwich Sunday”
Goal setting. That’s what “they” call it (the same folks that say life is a journey). If you don’t have a goal to work toward you’re like a ship without a rudder, in a canoe without a paddle or a compass without a needle. Wouldn’t be nice to think that’s what the problem is with your lack of strength? Just a need of motive? Keep your goals and your positive attitude and you’ll weather many a storm. What’s the other platitude? Keep on truckin!