Thought for the Week

Journey of enjoyment

Recently I cycled from Maynooth to Galway and back for Down Syndrome Ireland. It’s just over 400 kilometres and seems even longer when you’re cycling in the heat. While it might just be considered to be an athletic endeavour, such challenges can provide insight. 

It’s about the journey 

Cycling over 400 kilometres reminded me that, in life, it’s about the journey.

As I cycled, I realised that this might be the only time I would ever cycle such a distance. Often we wish our lives away, wanting to reach a certain place in life in order to be happy. However, oftentimes the satisfaction derived from setting an objective is not so much in attaining the objective, but in the anticipation and striving toward that objective. So, as much as possible, try to enjoy the journey. 

Of course, sometimes it is difficult to keep going, especially when life throws challenges our way, but there is strength to be obtained by taking it slow or by engaging with others. When my legs began to complain, I changed gear and chatted to those around me for comfort and encouragement. 

Similar strategies can be applied to everyday life. We may face difficult life situations that require mental toughness, but we can make it through many stressful periods if we just find the mental strength to continue onward.

Just keep going

In a long distant cycle, as in life, the key is just to keep going, even if that means going slowly. No matter how hard things get, there is usually an end in sight, if we just keep going forward. 

Life is difficult. We are pressured and stressed and pulled in various directions. Amidst the rush and hustle of the daily grind, it can be easy to lose ourselves and forget what really matters. We get steered off course and put all our energy toward things that ultimately don't matter much at all.

Remembering what really matters in life requires a conscious effort and here's to each of us trying to live a life that really matters and that always helps rather than hurts our fellow human beings!

Thought for the week

As your thought for the week, keep going forward no matter what challenges life throws at you and don’t be afraid to give help and receive help as you make that journey through life and don’t forget to savour the experience as it is all about the journey and not the end result.