On the road...

Leaving home was, to say the least, an inexplicably difficult way to end an amazing chapter of my life. As the days drew closer to my final exchange of "see you laters" with friends and family, the lines between bitter and sweet would begin to blur and I would feel all at once both the sorrow of leaving something behind and the sweetness of starting new adventures of doing what I've been called to do.

One of the best things about constantly being on the road is the wisdom it leaves in your pocket as you hop on the next plane, bus, or train. Wisdom so heavy it outweighs any desolation, but light enough to fit in your carry-on wherever you go.

Being on the move makes days long, but weeks short. When it's just you carrying your own things, you learn to travel light. You also learn to let go of things you won't need for your trip. Remember, the clean clothes will soon be dirty, and what's worse than packing clean clothes is packing dirty ones. The best part is that you get to carry this attitude over other aspects of your life - emotionally, mentally. You get to cut out any heavy baggages that will take away from the experience of your trip.

I also realized that my parents didn't just make me do chores for kicks. There is wisdom in doing chores regularly because it helps you to be prepared to do anything at any time! When packing is a part of your weekly routine, it's important to always have clean clothes. You can't always predict when someone will need you somewhere! Preparedness is a result of good habits, of being faithful to the little things.

It's true, it's not about the destination, but the journey. However, the journey we choose to embark on does reveal just what our destination is worth. So, yes, the end matters. Our goal matters. What we do about the goal matters, too. In short, nothing escapes the call of greatness. Nothing is allowed to be mediocre -- not in the process, not in the end.

Not the last, and definitely not the least -- one thing I'm learning is that when it's just you in that seat for hours, you will really feel solitude. Not loneliness. Solitude. And it's fortifying. In solitude, I've learned the value of company. People are not things to fill your needs. They are there to share things with. They are not objects to be used as means to an end. Embracing solitude will also make you realize the same thing about yourself. You are not someone's means to an end. You are not to fill anyone's need. You are to share yourself. You are to simply be. When you can sit for hours in silence and solitude, you'll realize that you don't really need much and it makes everything you give and receive count that much more.

Travel light, be prepared, and make it count. Make your journey count.

+JMJ+