Journey, not destination

A famous line attributed to Spanish literary great Miguel de Cervantes, 'the road is always better than the inn,' suggests that the journey itself may hold more value than the destination. The road, with all its challenges, discoveries and experiences, is what truly enhances one's life, rather than the destination or end goal. It is during the journey, whether physically or metaphorically, where one learns and grows, encountering unexpected beauty and hardships that shape one's character.

An Urdu poet put it succinctly, 'Tujhe paa lene mein woh betaab kaifiyat kahan/ Zindagi woh hai jo teri justjoo mein kat gayee' - Where's that desirable feeling of restlessness in wooing you?/ The excitement of love and life lies in your eternal quest. We grow through striving and moving forward, rather than settling down too soon. They say, harkat mein barkat hai, action begets positive results. Facing challenges on the path shapes who you become.

Happiness is in the process; it's not in the destination. Once we 'achieve' our 'goal', joie de vivre dissipates. The 'goal-lessness' slows us down physically, mentally and intellectually. We tend to become slothful and sluggish. It's like, 'Paane ki aarzoo mein zinda tha/ Jo mil gaya toh zinda na raha' - He was alive to achieve/ After achieving that he ceased to exist.


Remember the song, 'Jeevan chalne ka naam, chalte raho subaho-shaam...' - complacency or resting on our laurels can put a stop to our growth and ascension. To be complacent is to be mediocre. Keep complacency at bay.