The destination does not matter

The destination does not matter. It is who you travel with that makes the journey worthwhile. We tend to focus too much on the destination and reaching the place. In our personal journeys we often fall in this trap, and we ask questions like, "what is the plan?" or "where are we going?" Perhaps there is no plan, perhaps what is going on is only about two bondhus walking hand in hand. Enjoying every step, making memories with every bit of distance covered, not worrying about where they are going as long as they are going together. How about the possibility that we have no destination other than making sure we hurt no one and trample over no one as we walk together. The point is not to focus on the destination but to make sure the journey is comfortable fulfilling and life giving. When we focus on the journey then we have no rush to reach, but we care more about the comfort in the companionship. This is when we worry about reaching out to the ones who might feel hopeless along the way, to hold out a hand to those who are tired, and to laugh with those who see the amusement of the journey. This is difficult to achieve because most travelers are fixated on the destination and the journey is designed to reach the end. The open ended potential of the journey itself is forgotten, and in the frenetic effort to reach the destination we forget to stop and look around. We forget to see the beauty of the co-travelers, to get to know the companion and understand what makes the person happy or sad. In the hurry to reach we take damaging short cuts which end up hurting the companions. We forget to listen to our partner in travel leaving behind an ocean of hurt as we chart our own path and forget what the companion wants. To me the travel is about the moments on the way, of knowing that there are others traveling with me and at times changing the course because the companion wants to set a new course. It may not lead to where I was imagining I would go, but sometimes the travel partners know the better path and even a different destination. What makes the journey still enjoyable is the partner. And the willingness and ability to shift the route knowing that the route will keep the travel companions with me. I speak in metaphors here, this is not about a flight from Newark to Delhi, but it is about the relationships one develops with the fellow travelers. So, it is not just about the journey - but it is about the emotions that define the journey. And as long as the feeling persist the journey goes on. Sometimes it is a private journey, not many people other than the travelers actually know that they are traveling together. Some journeys are public, often announced to the World over the exchange of life-long commitment vowed at the start of the journey. We all are in these journeys, all separate, some congruent, some divergent, some that remain out of sight, others that are celebrated. I have been traveling for a while, have touched many co-travelers, some stay for ever, others have drifted away and gone on to their own and separate journeys, some are new with many promises. These will all come to an end eventually. All these paths will converge to the final moment, the question is: Will you look at the final exit sign and be able to claim that every path was worthwhile, all the long drives, all flights on the fast jets, and all treks along the paths that lead to the end. I am hoping for more. I have a sense that there are more paths left to explore and I have to use a non-English song today that captures it all (translation provided below) in simply saying "Aami path harabo bolei ebaar pthe nebechi" (I have descended on the road with the intention of getting lost).

Translation:

I got on the road this time because I would lose my way

 I stumbled a lot on the straight path,
 I got on the road because I lost my way ….

 I was covered by the ban guard
 When he's gone he calls me back,

 I was covered by the ban guard
 When he's gone he calls me back,
 I cried a lot hoping to match the eyes
 I closed my eyes to find this,

 I have puzzled a lot on the straight path
 I got on the road this time because I would lose my way.

 music ……

 I didn't know that I knew anything
 Lost in the unknown, so find yourself again, …… 2

 He did not listen to the song that day
 The heart is gold when he hears the song,

 music ………

 He did not listen to the song that day
 The heart is gold when he hears the song,
 I have cooked the wire in the ghats of anger
 I tied it to Seta's tune to lose the tune,

 I have puzzled a lot on the straight path
 I got on the road this time because I will lose my way …