A Journey Of A Thousand Miles...

La Route De Rocquencourt
Camille Pissarro
1871

"A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step". ~~ Laozi, Chinese philosopher.  Our lives are like a journey; or rather, our lives are like a series of journeys.  We're Phileas Fogg and Jean Passepartout in "Around the World in 80 Days". Part of our journey is on a steamship, part is on a train, occasionally we walk, sometimes we fly, but we always move forward.  And, like the old cliché, sometimes we hit a fork in the road and have to make a decision as to which road we will take.  Often we take the wrong road, and we cross the Rubicon and realize we cannot turn back. The best we can do is to continue along the road we're on until we find another crossroads. But, isn't that what makes life intesting?  Wouldn't it be boring continuing down the same road forever?  The same old scenery, the same old people, the same old sunrise and sunset.  Yawn.

The Road to Louveciennes
Camille Pissarro
1872

When we first start out on the journey, we think we are prepared for whatever is down the road. We have our passports, and our clean, shiny faces, and with great anticipation we take our first steps. However, it's not long before we discover there are bumps and bends in the road. And often there are wonderful adventures ~~ and misadventures ~~ to deter us. But that's okay, because I think the point of any journey is to enjoy it and have fun. My motto?  Laugh ~~ a lot.  And always be open to new opportunities, because they will find us at the most unusual times.  Much of the good fortune that befalls us is through serendipity, happenstance and just dumb luck.

"I say luck is when an opportunity comes along and you're prepared for it." ~~ Denzel Washington

The Railroad Crossing at Les Patis
Camille Pissarro
1876

Sometimes, if we're fortunate, we make the journey with someone else, and sometimes we make the journey alone.  I have always felt it is better to make the journey on one's own, than to make it with the wrong person.

"It's better to be unhappy alone than unhappy with someone else." ~~ Marilyn Monroe.

The exciting things about journeys are the opportunities along the way.  The generations that travelled along the road before us have bequeathed to us all their music, art, literature, scientific discoveries ~~ and so much more ~~ for us to enjoy and build upon.  They have given us the opportunity to say, "I was here...."  It's up to us to decide how we say it.  But the most important thing is to enjoy the journey, and not to get too stressed about the occasional boulder in the road.  Usually we make our way safely around them, and when we look back, we see the seemingly insurmountable rock was actually just a little pebble, and we laugh.

To Mac, who is setting out on a new journey down a new road ~~ at just the right time ~~ Happy Birthday...!