I did not learn in school that the deep longing I have for this or that outcome is actually the longing I have to be at peace with myself. ~ Rolf Gates
In every experience, there are life lessons to be learned. Sometimes they are just a whisper, but if we listen closely, we will hear them.
I just returned from a ten-day trip to visit new friends, old friends and family. I have always felt blessed to live in California with our beautiful diversity in people as well as geography. Visiting Carmel by the Sea gives me pause to wonder if there is anywhere on earth as beautiful as that shoreline. Driving to southern California brings back memories of my childhood living in a suburb of Los Angeles and my trips to the Orange County area throughout my childhood.
My trip home, driving on highway 5 which cuts right through the center of the state gave me six hours to think about where I’ve come from and where I’m going. I have not driven this road in a few years, but it is a familiar trek, starting when I was 18 moving north to attend college and driving back down several times a year to visit family.
The prairie grass is turning golden brown as I travel along, and the rolling hills cover the fertile soil of our central valley. This road with its wide open spaces is a vast contrast to the crowded California cities by the coast.
Sometimes I am with family in the car, but today I was driving alone. As I drove I recalled how that long stretch of highway feels like the ribbon of my life and how a journal entry on each trip would have recorded it all.
As I drove I caught up on some podcasts I’ve been wanting to listen to, such as Denise Krochta’s radio program, Addicted to Addicts: Survival 101, and CopyBlogger, online marketing advice. Then enough talk and it was time for my “Favorites” itunes list.
On any trip there is much to enjoy and see. Catching up with friends can be refreshing and gets us out of our routine. After a certain amount of time, I’m always ready to come home.
Here’s what I thought about driving home on Highway 5:
1. Let Go. The past is gone and tomorrow is not here, so live for today. Enjoy the moment, see the beauty and appreciate what has come your way.
2. Don’t Stop. Sometimes a project or goal we have set seems unreachable, and we want to quit. Have the persistence to keep going as success might be just around the corner.
3. Be a Life Long Learner. Be open and seek out new opportunities. Your life will be more interesting. New experiences, information, and possibilities are all within your reach.
4. Be Honest with Yourself and with Others. Honesty can take so many forms. Being honest with your situation and letting go of denial will allow you to live with peace of mind. Being honest about what you say and do gives you the respect you deserve.
5. Cherish Friends New and Old. My friends from childhood keep alive the memories I have from so long ago. New friends bring in a unique sparkle to all of our lives, and their friendship takes us down exciting new roads.
6. Be Strong. You can’t live very long in this world before you are faced with challenges. No one gets through life unscathed. Being strong means you can face your challenges, change what you can and accept the rest. Through it all you can have a joyful life when you choose to see the positive.
7. Love Yourself. We all have our strengths and weaknesses and yet sometimes we find it difficult to accept who we really are beneath the trappings of our life. When we love our true selves, and treat ourselves with kindness, our generosity spreads to others.
Traveling down a familiar road can bring comfort. It can be a moment in time where you appreciate the people and places of your life.
What you also realize as you travel along the journey of your life is that while many things do change, some things stay the same.
What are your recent life lessons? Share your thoughts in comments.
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