There is no way I could quantify the number of miles or kilometers that I have travelled over the past 5 months, and now I find myself on the last leg of a journey that took me to every imaginable destination. I have been to bustling cities in South America, to seemingly untouched nature reserves, to visit new friends and old friends, and I have said hello and goodbye to so many people along the way. It is hard to believe all of the incredible things I have seen, and I can say with certainty that I succeeded in fulfilling the desire to expand my horizons and I am returning as a changed man.
Behind me is a path I have been following without hesitation, without regret, and without a clue what may lie ahead. For the longest time, even the notion of such a path seemed like a bad idea, as if embarking on such a journey would immediately erase everything I had achieved in a world that seemed like a permanent reality. And now here I am, returning from my sister's beautiful wedding and in my heart and mind I feel that I have accomplished more on this path than any other I have followed in my life. As I sit here, I keep thinking about myself sitting in an airplane on the way to Santiago, with so many questions unanswered and so many expecations to fulfill. I sat alone and isolated on that plane with a sense of dissatisfaction - I had accomplished many things on paper, but had failed to find a spiritual well being. When I left the states I did so because the immediate future seemed so unpromising and bleak, and I felt trapped by a life filled with routine - I had grown accustomed to finding comfort in past experiences rather than thriving on exposure to new and exciting things. The life I left behind in Napa had grown to be unfulfilling and I felt lost in the present, and until I left I never committed myself to breaking the mold. I think now I can look back and say that the repetition that defined my lifestyle there created a false sense of endurance, like I could live the same week over and over again and be content with everything because I felt comfortable. My journey taught me that I can't live my life trying to reproduce elements of the past and expect to find a sense of fulfillment. Every day is a new opportunity to find a new form of fulfillment, to break the mold of the man I was yesterday and forge a new beginning based on unfamiliarity. Success is an individual reality, and can only be acheived by those who are truly happy. In order to find that happiness, I have to fight the habits that I have formed and make a promise to seize each day and recognize the opportunities that each day brings.
As my hiatus from the Californian wine industry nears, and as I reflect on the most epic journey I have ever known, it is easy for me to acknowledge the promise that the future holds. I see innumerable opportunities ahead of me and I plan to continue my journey even though vacation is over. I am returning to a familiar setting with a promise to myself - that I will commit to positive changes for the future, and no longer will I fall back on the comfort of past habits. Additionally, I know in my heart and mind that it is in my best interest to continue searching for new stars and new horizons, and I am already eager to set my sights on new unfamiliar destinations.
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