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The journey is all.
Jul. 16th, 2004 11:16 pmI've always hated that saying, the one that says that it's not the destination that matters, but the journey. Every time someone says that it makes me cringe inside. It's always struck me as wrong, although the explanation for why has always somewhat eluded me. Not so much that I didn't know, just that the explanation tends to bury itself down a tad farther than the usual conscious effort can reach. But I read something recently, and I don't recall where exactly, as I've been reading a ton the last week or so, that rather has brought the reason a little closer to verbal communication of it.
There are actually several reasons why I hate the saying about the journey being more important than the destination. One is that it is really far too vague. To say that phrase in any context is not specific enough. I mean, even given that perhaps the saying has true meaning in some instances, there are some really important instances where it does not, and to simply say that it does in such sweeping generality tends to negate its argument. Although, I do tend to think that perhaps it is more likely to be false than true, but this too is a generality, and I shall attempt not to use it as such.
The second thing, and probably what bothers me the most, is the way in which people use it to describe life and the various bits of it. It's always, "oh, I'm not thinking about the end result, after all, it's the journey that matters." Which, I feel, is a complete load of crap. Not to say that our actions in life aren't what we are judged on and what make us who we are. It's just that, people tend to forget that the destination is one, the whole point of the journey in the first place, and two, the very place one is heading will inevitably make a significant difference in the things one experiences and the choices one has to make. If I'm going to Cleveland to see a dying and fictitious aunt, I may have a hell of a time on the road, but if I wasn't paying attention to actually getting to Cleveland, then she shall die and I shall miss the point entirely of the trip. Not to mention that no amount of fun had on the trip can make up for screwing up the point of getting to the destination. And even if a person has no particular destination in mind, there's more than a good chance in life that a person shall find themselves in a very bad spot. Like meandering aimlessly through New York until one gets mugged in some dark alley (or wherever it is that a person gets mugged in NY).
I guess I'm trying to say that if a person tries to focus on the journey instead of the destination, one is likely to never reach the destination, and usually things tend to get royally screwed up as well.
I'm sure there's more to say, but I am tired and I want to be well rested for my b-day party tomorry. I get to see I-Robot, woo!
There are actually several reasons why I hate the saying about the journey being more important than the destination. One is that it is really far too vague. To say that phrase in any context is not specific enough. I mean, even given that perhaps the saying has true meaning in some instances, there are some really important instances where it does not, and to simply say that it does in such sweeping generality tends to negate its argument. Although, I do tend to think that perhaps it is more likely to be false than true, but this too is a generality, and I shall attempt not to use it as such.
The second thing, and probably what bothers me the most, is the way in which people use it to describe life and the various bits of it. It's always, "oh, I'm not thinking about the end result, after all, it's the journey that matters." Which, I feel, is a complete load of crap. Not to say that our actions in life aren't what we are judged on and what make us who we are. It's just that, people tend to forget that the destination is one, the whole point of the journey in the first place, and two, the very place one is heading will inevitably make a significant difference in the things one experiences and the choices one has to make. If I'm going to Cleveland to see a dying and fictitious aunt, I may have a hell of a time on the road, but if I wasn't paying attention to actually getting to Cleveland, then she shall die and I shall miss the point entirely of the trip. Not to mention that no amount of fun had on the trip can make up for screwing up the point of getting to the destination. And even if a person has no particular destination in mind, there's more than a good chance in life that a person shall find themselves in a very bad spot. Like meandering aimlessly through New York until one gets mugged in some dark alley (or wherever it is that a person gets mugged in NY).
I guess I'm trying to say that if a person tries to focus on the journey instead of the destination, one is likely to never reach the destination, and usually things tend to get royally screwed up as well.
I'm sure there's more to say, but I am tired and I want to be well rested for my b-day party tomorry. I get to see I-Robot, woo!
