“… he that curse the start of the journey is unlikely to reach the destination and if he does, might not enjoy the sight”
In my younger years, I was such a daredevil, take me to any of these entertainment parks, and I eye the most dangerous and daring rides, those were the ones of interest to me. However a change happened as I grew older, a change I did not see coming. I am now the person that preferred to haul all the bags and water bottles why others go on the rides, I would rather sit this ride out, and that ride and even that one etc, and if allowed my way, I will prefer to sit out the whole going to the Amusement park! The point is, I am hardly ever amused going there now, I find the whole experience a bit torturous, starting from the planning, I always feel they are way too expensive for what they are worth, I never like the crowd, the exorbitant unhealthy cheaply prepared food and snack is always a put off, don’t get me started on the queues, there is always a couple really annoying people on it. And when it is your turn, you are rushed on to the rides, by some over worked underpaid staff, the doors or bars slam shut like prison doors and off you go on a stomach churning experience termed ‘amusement’ or ‘entertainment’. I come off those rides now, questioning the meaning of life and the reason why so much time, money and effort is put into pleasure when somewhere in the world, loads of people are suffering and can barely feed themselves.
The night before going to these parks, the little ones are so excited, they can hardly sleep, I don’t sleep either, but for totally different reasons, I tend to dread the experience, feeling incredibly apprehensive but always manage to hide my feelings and put on a happy front.
On the few occasions I do not succeed in sitting it out and I have to go on a ride, After each ride, I always come out, looking like someone that has just been in one of Dr Who’s experiment, trudging along, muttering “never again!” under my breath! Whereas my little one is hopping along, super excited, can’t wait to get on the next ride, simply having the time of life.
It never cease to amaze me, that in the same park, same rides, there is the melancholic experience of grumpy old me and the exciting, exhilarating experience of my little ones. I have always wondered where such a difference comes from. It is actually quite simple, it is our expectations, our attitudes. Life is just exactly the same, some approach life with gusto and child like innocence and excitement and others approach life with the heaviness and drudgery of a grumpy old woman and we all reap accordingly.
Life is a journey and if we curse the start (or any part ) of the Journey with our negative thoughts and attitudes, we are unlikely to make the destination (of fulfilment).
Bless the Journey!
Beautiful Ivory 