Remember the days when all of us kids were jammed back in the station wagon and headed out on a vacation to the beach or the mountains? For me it was a nightmare. Winding through southern states before we could get to Florida, or Alabama, or Tennessee, among other places. There was no AC in the hot car, no seatbelts, three girls fighting in the back seat and later a brother standing up in the front seat between our mom and dad. We would get a smack (on anything my mother could reach) if we asked, “Are we there yet?” too many times. That was my childhood.

Well, I made it to adulthood and vacations changed for the better. My family has been on many enjoyable trips, going to the beaches, the mountains, and cities across the U.S. We didn’t go back to the south except a few times. The west has so much to offer. When I think about the changes to travel and the affordability of air travel, my heart lightens. Sure, it’s trying with a little one, but as he got older, it was fun to watch him enjoy the new sites and vistas. We weren’t able to go only many vacations, but now that he’s grown, kiddo can see the world. And I look forward to the day we both retire and have our own travel adventures by ourselves. There are still so many places to see in this great big world, faraway places with lovely people and beautiful vistas.

But you know me, that’s not the question I really want you to ponder. “Are we there yet?” This question goes beyond the literal meaning of a physical destination. This question represents a vastly broader inquiry. It’s about reaching your desired goals or state of being. It sometimes reflects impatience to getting something completed. It is an ask that lets you think about what you have achieved. Are you there yet? Did you reach your goals in the life you have lived so far? If not, what steps can you take to get there?

Think of it this way: Consider what there means in your current situation. What are you striving for right now? And how do you measure your progress? Can you reflect on your milestones and use them to tell if you are moving in the right direction? Are you being patient with yourself? Are you persevering through the tough times? Are you making a list? (That’s me, the list maker….) Can you focus on the process of the journey instead of fixating on the end result? It’s a better way to enjoy each thing you accomplish on the way to the end of the journey!

So when the world’s problems get you down, and you start worrying about everything that is disastrous, send out messages of hope, both mentally and physically, and know that you are a good person and are trying to do you absolute best. Although I was not a great believer in the generation where every kid gets a trophy, sometimes I agree that it is a really good thing. And adults need those trophies, too, especially if they are trying to do something new and scary. Or, if they are trying to do the right thing in the face of adversity every day of their lives. So, when you think about the milestones in your life, and learn to be satisfied with where you’re at right now so you can move towards completion in the task at hand, think of it this way. One of the things my dad told us when we were whining, “Are we there yet?” was:

“Closer than you think.”
Be well tonight and I send out love and hugs to all of you.