Friends

Current Music:	Suspension - Mae
Subject:	Of Long Drives and Little Stopovers
Time:	01:32 am
Current Mood:	excited

While talking with Melissa today, in a moment of profound sarcasm (or sarcastic profundity), I came across something interestingly insightful. Talking about her trip home from her Christmas reunion in the province, I blurted out jokingly,

"The best part of any trip is not only the long drive, but also the little stopovers along the way. Parang life! HAHAHAHAHAHA!"

Cliche reminds us time and time again of the greater importance of the journey over the destination. We are told of the power of the events one experiences whilst moving forward towards our desired goal and how these experiences are what will be embedded into our minds, teach us something, and help us grow. More often than not, people will look back and recall more vividly the uphill battle and the little victories along the way rather than the final reward. All "journey" movies tell us the same thing. These experiences that make up the long drive are what make up the very meat of the prize at the end of it all.

Very seldom, however, do we realize that in between these forward pushes and uphill battles are moments of silent repose and solemn stillness. We often forget that the long drive is not entirely made up of active efforts to "get there." One also needs time to rest, replenish, and reflect. Resting and replenishing are self-explanatory, but reflect? Reflect on what? Well, on where the long drive is going and if one is still on course. Such is the nature of the often forgotten stopovers we usually take for granted. If not to rest or replenish, then to reassess the course we are taking - to look at all the experiences so far and see if the way we are going is truly the way we want to go or still the way we want to go. If it's not, well those little stopovers are the perfect opportunity to check one's map and plot out the necessary adjustments to one's course. But if it is, well then we move onto the last and most enjoyable purpose of the stopover, and that is to simply revel; to look at all the experiences so far and, seeing that we are where we want to be, appreciate it all. One can find reason behind the relentless push forward. That's where the true beauty of the journey lies, really; in the reason behind it, in the WHY of it. And there, in that moment of appreciation, one may find deliciously sweet satisfaction.

In the end, we all need those little stopovers once in a while. After hours of driving, and knowing we still face many more hours ahead, it's nice to find a moment to sit back, relax, grab some grub at a nearby gas station, and talk about the trip so far with those taking the trip with you. In the stillness of those stopover moments, we can sift through the muddle of experiences and find direction. In direction, perhaps we can find something to truly be happy about. Let the moments of reflection season the thick meat of experiences and elevate the quality of the final prize.

It's been more than two months since I updated last. It's not that nothing has happened since then. Rather so much has happened that I've had neither the time nor the energy to sit in front of my computer and make a log. Now isn't the time to speak of them all, but I can assure you it has been a truly long drive, with many uphill battles and memorable victories. But, even more memorable are those moments of stillness, those little stopovers. That moment on a friend's front porch, another on a living room couch, the silent conversation on the phone, even all those late night cab rides - all were stopovers where much of the action was happening in reflection. Looking back, those were the moments that made the journey so much more beautiful and delightful.

One long drive had just recently ended and I can safely say that I'm where I want to be. This is the destination I wanted to arrive at. The journey definitely made it all worthwhile, but not without those moments of reflection during those little stopovers.

And now, another journey begins. One I've never taken before. Hopefully those little stopovers aren't few and far between.

♥

Oh yeah. About the next journey I'm to take... It starts in about 7 and a half hours. ☺

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December 28th, 2009

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