I was standing in my regular spot this morning.
A homeless guy walked past me and said it was only be God’s grace he was still alive. A few minutes later the same guy walked up the street, ironically towards a church, and cursed at someone. Five minutes of fairly loud cursing and then he went quiet.
Interesting moments often happen at this intersection. I savor this thirty to forty minute block of time. I listen to the music from taxis as they hoot and wait to pick up the school children in the apartment block. I talk to the lady at the small fruit and vegetable shop. We talk about protests and the local municipality. Its lack of urgency and the incompetence a popular subject all over town.
Other times I see a friend. We talk about things we used to do when we worked together. Or he tells me about his current job. Always laughing when we talk.
Smelling the urine against the wall were homeless people sleep I think about life. My life. How I often wish for things, success or notoriety. Then I unlock my phone and browse a few newsletters thinking how it might be fun to be famous but I’d have to give up standing on corners taking photos.
We spend so much time chasing what’s next that we forget to appreciate what’s now. Your journey matters just as much as the destination. Celebrate the progress, stay present, and find joy in every step forward.
– Boder, PA-C | PA Mentor
A great thought.
We rush through most of the things we do in life. We see the end of the work day as a goal. Or the end of a year as something to work for. In doing this we don’t focus on what’s right in front of us.
I often here this type of discussions around the end (or start) of a year:
“This year went by so fast.”
“Just one month then it’s already April. Time flies. Soon it will be May, next winter will be finished and then Spring is here. And then it’s only a month before Christmas.”
Someone made a great counter point to these arguments:
“You don’t remember where the time went because you don’t know what you did. Write down everything you do and then look back and you’ll see where the time went.”
Enjoy the journey. Savor the cold mornings, getting up at 5. Enjoy the pointless discussions because you can learn something from them. Enjoy making mistakes because you can learn something from them. Make some on purpose to see what happens.
Thanks for reading : )