Are We There Yet?

“Are we there yet?”

A line made famous by Donkey in DreamWorks’ iconic Shrek, and one that every parent knows all too well from long car rides.

Heading somewhere new for the first time often stirs a mix of emotions. Excitement, nerves, anxiety, and everything in between.

When I first took my morning walks along an unfamiliar route, I kept my map close. I knew the destination and focused on getting there. Eyes on the map, glancing ahead, mind fixed on arriving as quickly as possible.

Am I there yet? Almost, but not quite. Am I on the right path? Why does this feel so long and daunting?

After a few visits, the journey felt easier. Lighter. As though I was arriving faster. But the truth was, the distance had not changed at all.

With familiarity came confidence, and with confidence came curiosity. I tried other ways to reach the same destination. I did not always have to take the same route.

It is comfortable to stick to paths we know well. Convenient, even. Yet life has a way of reminding us to plan for the unexpected. Roadblocks appear. Wrong turns happen, sometimes even on routes we have travelled many times before.

The destination matters, but how we respond along the way matters just as much.