The Value of Then and Now
Perspective on finding value in the moment in a faced paced world
Then
The fire for travel has always smoldered within. As a Junior in college attending the University of London it burned care free and wreckless the only way it can in am overconfident youth’s approach life.
Like haphazardly throwing a log on the fire, the sparks flying in all directions were synapsis firing with each new experience. Living in a flat, becoming friends with neighbors; late night curry feasts, followed by pints in the pub. Exploring London proper, the museums and theatre; long weekends in Dublin, Paris, or Florence. Amazed at how close everything seemed to be.
It was a time; upon reflection, as every time seems to be, of political strife. The troubles were raging. One morning thrown out of bed by the bomb blast that rocked Harrods, a block from my flat; another time exiting the tube station 10 minutes before a subsequent blast. I wrapped myself in the history that was happening around me, fueling my Irish roots and took in every moment of it. Imprinting each moment on my brain and filing it away for future endeavor.
In trying to take advantage of the opportunity, yet be mindful of the costs that my parents so generously were paying, the student travel life during exploration consisted of staying in hostels and eating loaves of baguette with a bit of cheese. Promising that next time, when older, the experience would include B&B’s and nice restaurants.
Now
Some 30 years later the oft dreamed for “adult” trip overseas has just wrapped up. It took the shape of a Viking River Cruise from Amsterdam to Basil. Yes! I have long been sucker for the commercials that accompany Masterpiece on PBS :)
Unlike the frenetic pace of my youth, this form of travel was like a smoldering fire. A log occasionally thrown onto banked embers to keep it going steady and warm. Long cruises down the Rhine, followed by stops dedicated to churches and cathedrals. One of my favorite stops was an evening dinner and wine tasting at the Eberback Monastary. There were only eight of us so it was pretty much a private tour in this 12th century location where interestingly The Name of the Rose happened to also be filmed (geek out moment)! The cool damp stone wanted for a fire; though without it it was easier to be transported back to the time of the Cloister.
This time around tasting and experiencing the culture seemed more rounded; maybe simply the type of awareness that comes from being an adult. The climate of decades ago has changed, time has passed and the venues have altered, yet the quest for freedom remains. An incredibly moving moment was a silent tribute in Dam Square, Amsterdam to Alexei Nevalny; reminding us that the fire ignited by our voices matters more than ever.
The Value
How we value time and experiences change through different phases of our lives. The adage “the grass is always greener” is a misnomer. As Americans, we have a tendency to rush through things just to get to the next step, the next item on the list. Check it off; onward and upward! Always striving towards the next thing, no matter what that is. This could be for advancing a career for monetary goals, or simply because being idle is not acceptable, productivity is what is engrained in us. (do we need to have a fire lit under us all the time)? What this has achieved are unprecedented levels of stress and discontent.
So how do we find the value in this adventure called life? Kick up your feet for a moment, feel the warmth of the fire on your face (literally or metaphorically), close your eyes and take a deep breath. Then try being present in each moment and experiencing life as it happens in the place you are at that moment in time. Relish it and reflect on the richness it adds.
Thank you
for offering this fun writing opportunity!