Joy in the Journey

Today I was studying outdoors in this beautiful park.  At this park there was a sign that said there was another park about 1.3 miles away.  I had reached a point in my studies where I was going to have to read a lot.  So, curious to see this other park, I decided to walk to this other park while I read.  I was curious to see what this other park looked like.  On my way I saw many different things.


- A lady running with her dog.  She had a giant smile on her face so I said "Hi" and she smiled even bigger back at me.


- A little boy riding his scooter, wearing a helmet, knee pads, elbow pads, and wrist guards.  Of course his anxious mother was close behind


- A beautiful bridge that crossed over a small canyon.


- Two ducks, one male one female, swimming together in the creek.


- An elderly couple, probably in their seventies, walking hand in hand.


I later arrived at the park.  It was very nice.  I sat down, and thought about my walk... that when the thought came to me.  I really enjoyed my walk more that the park I was destined to arrive at.  I had found Joy in the Journey.

I had seen so many beautiful things.  Happiness in the runner, care in the mother with her small child, help from the bridge to do the difficult more easily, natural bond keeping those ducks together, and love that had lasted a life time.

In out lives many times we wait so much for the reward at the end of every ordeal, but don't stop to find Joy in the Journey, to look around and see all the wonderful things that surround us.  Yeah, I was tired after walking, my feet were sore, but was it worth it?  Clearly.

My father once said to me in a letter, "Be humble, be patient, and remember that the glory is in the journey, not in the "goal" at the end."

We all need to look for the wonderful things that surround us.  Be positive, optimistic, and hopeful.  

Then you will find Joy in the Journey.