How Did I Get Here

Once In a Lifetime - Talking Heads

I find now more than often I ask the question 'How did I get here?'   It's not that I'm confused or unhappy with where I find myself in life but rather a chance to look back at all the experiences and choices made in life to bring you to a point in time.    I look at it as a celebration of what I've done and where I am now.     Every little step makes us who we are and takes us along the road in life.

I think it's important to take stock now and then on where I am and check in with myself.    Do I like where I am in life?, what I'm doing with my time?, whom I'm spending time with?   Am I learning?

Looking back has been particularly relevant in the past few days as I find myself in Europe.  I am continually drawn back to past trips and experiences while travelling whether these be 9 years or 30 years prior, they seem to be suddenly at the forefront of my mind.   Perhaps that's age as the long-term seems much clearer than the short-term these days.   I'm loving it.

In independent travel there are lots of individual decisions to be made.  Decisions as large as where and when to go, to the smaller ones like which street to turn down when meandering through a new city.   While both are important, I love the adventure of the small ones.  Turning a corner unguided brings about unexpected adventure and opens your mind to all possibilities.

In the past days I have wandering the streets of the catalonia area in Spain.  Barcelona and Girona in particular.  Barcelona is familiar but always changing and developing.  Girona is new to me and the perfect place to make those little decisions that have the potential for great experiences and open your mind to every sight, sound and smell.   You reach a destination and looking back to 'How did I get here' takes on a new meaning.  Was it the tracing of the past few turns on the map or does it extend to the choice of city and method of transport, or even further to what brought on the decision to pack a bag and make the journey?  It's important to think about it now and again and take that journey back in your life.  How did you get to where you are now?   Let yourself enjoy the journey once again.