The journalist Andy Rooney once observed, “Everyone wants to live on top of the mountain, but all the happiness and growth occurs while you’re climbing it.”
Let’s say that you’re going on vacation. You have planned for this special trip for the better part of a year. Since we’re fantasizing here, let’s say you’re going to Tahiti. You have read all the reviews; you’ve read that the scent of the flowers permeates the air. The climate is near perfect, the people are friendly, the sailing is stupendous…well you get the point. You continually think about, dream about, and highly anticipate this trip of a lifetime.
You board the plane and although the flight from Chicago is going to take just short of 17 hours you are so full of anticipation that you don’t care – “Just get me there!” becomes your mantra.
You arrive, walk off the plane and somehow you aren’t as excited about this anymore. You kinda felt this way when you first boarded the plane, but you put it off to being tired, frazzled from the last-minute stuff you had to do. You arrive at the hotel and yes, it's beautiful but you get upset with yourself because the thrill is starting to dissipate. “What the heck is going on?” you ask yourself. “This is NUTS!!!!!”
If you're in sales you notice the same thing….you have been looking forward to this meeting with a prospect. They decide to purchase, invest, whatever. Somehow you feel a let-down……..
The point I’m trying to make here is this – ENJOY THE MOMENT. ENJOY THE NOW. What most people enjoy the most, and find the most satisfaction from is…….the journey.
Savor every moment in your life. I say that because, in the end, life itself is a journey.
If you really want to be bold, try not to bring a camera along on your next vacation! Sounds crazy but that vacation, that journey will last a whole lot longer because now you have to use your mind to remember. And when you do this, those memories will be seared in your brain. Every aspect will become fresh and of course, there will be certain experiences that you’ll forget however, the most pleasurable of those memories will constantly be fresh, and the most enjoyable of these memories will be….the journey.
Live every day as a journey. Enjoy those precious moments and make every moment of your life a daring adventure and a blessed event.