Always Enjoy the Journey

We were out walking in a nearby park one windy, autumn day, when Bob spotted a small pile of fallen leaves. They had been blown by the wind and had formed into a small pyramid. Bob jogged over to it, then waded into the pile until he was so deep into the leaves I could barely see his legs. He then began thrashing away, frantically clearing leaves away with his paws.

It was hilarious. For a while he was lost in a flurry of brown, gold and silver leaves.

It was impossible for me to know what was going through his mind. Perhaps he had decided there was something hidden under the leaves? Maybe he smelled a mouse or some food?

It wasn’t long before the pyramid had been flattened, reduced to a blanket of leaves. Sure enough, there was something lying on the grass now, glinting in the afternoon sun. Unfortunately, it wasn’t as exciting as Bob might have hoped. It was a battered, old Coke can.

He nudged it with his nose, to check it was as unpromising as it appeared. He then jogged away, eager to explore another, smaller pile of leaves, the disappointment of the previous one already forgotten.

Sitting on a bench nearby, watching the scene unfold, I couldn’t help smiling. I was reminded me of that old saying: ‘To travel hopefully is a better thing than to arrive’. We place so much emphasis on achieving our goals, on reaching our destinations, that we often forget to enjoy the journey.

We should follow Bob’s example and simply relish the journey for what it is, regardless of where it takes us.