You Will Never Arrive – And That’s Okay
If you’re like most people, you probably have an idea in your head of what the perfect life would look like. You’ve probably told yourself that once you have those things, you’ll finally be happy – because you will have made it! You’ll reach your final, perfect destination. But the reality is, you will never arrive – and that’s totally okay.
I spent a lot of time on airplanes this summer, and it got me thinking a whole lot about this idea of arriving.
Before flying somewhere we choose a destination and buy a ticket.
We prep for the trip. We let people know when we’re leaving and when we’ll be back.
Then as long as everything goes according to plan, eventually we make it there.
We arrive.
But arriving in every other aspect of life isn’t quite as black and white.
At some point most of us have thought, “If I could just _________________ life would be so much easier/better/or more enjoyable.”
Usually this has to do with living somewhere different, finding a significant other, being offered a new job, or even winning the lottery.
The catch?
Most of us never slow down long enough to realize that even if/when we get where we’ve always wanted to be, by that point we will most likely already be wishing for something else.
I think this is called being human.
So what if the idea of “arriving” in life is actually all in our heads?
In theory we know that there is no one purchase, career path or amount of cash that will ever totally satisfy us. But our focus often stays so stuck on achievement that contentment is an afterthought. There has to be a balance of the two.
What I’m saying is – Our contentment and gratitude are SO closely connected to how happy (or miserable) we are as people. We have to figure out how to be happy, or at least find a bit of contentment, in the midst of our current chaos or imperfect situations because there is no amount of “arrival” that will ever make us feel entirely whole.
For me I used to think marriage (after my faith and family of course) would be the magical thing that finally made me completely happy with my life.
But once I was married, I wanted to make more money!
Then I wanted a dog!
Then I wanted a different job!
And now I want to live near the ocean…
But what would it look like to find contentment where I’m at on the way to where I’m going?How do we keep from being so consumed with our destination that we miss the importance not just in where we end up, but in HOW we get there?
I’m just asking a lot of questions today, but I’m not totally sorry about it.
I’m starting to think we just have to keep reminding ourselves – You will never arrive, and that’s okay. Life is more about the journey anyway.
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Agree or disagree? Have any thoughts on arriving or practicing contentment? Let’s talk in the comments!
Peace and hair grease,
Abby
It’s difficult to be present and content when we’re told all our lives to think ahead. Or life just happens and forces us to plan.
“What do you want to be when you grow up?” “What college do you want to go to?” “When you graduate, what do you plan to do?” “Are you married?” “When should we plan on having kids?” Bucket lists, calendars, resolutions, the lists go on FOREVER. And I’m a planner at heart so my mind tends to dwell on the future most of the time.
I’d like to be able to say I meditate on The Scriptures in Matthew 6, especially verse 34. But I don’t always. Boy, do I wish I did though. Today has enough worry and anxiousness of its own. I need to be reminded to practice contentment daily. Thanks for getting the conversation started, Abby.
So true! Like you I am an extreme think-ahead-er Jessie. It’s hard to find that ever elusive balance of planning and being ready for what’s coming, but also holding the outcome loosely in our hands. 🙂 Thanks for coming in here!!
AMEN! I use to be a “when I get to this point” person, but when I learned this lesson, when I learned to just be happy where I was life got soooo much better!
Sierra thanks for sharing. It is so dang true!! It’s easier to enjoy each day on it’s own when we aren’t always worrying or stressing about what comes next. It’s just something we have to practice over and over again.
I can totally relate! It is so absolutely true that we always want the next thing before we think we will feel as if we have arrived. The apostle Paul said it all in the bible verse when he said in Philippians 4:11: “…for I have LEARNED, in whatever state I am in to be content.” Thanks for your thoughts.
Yes I do love that passage so so much! Contentment tends to come and go, but when we trust that the right things will come at the right time it helps!