2.13.24 // The In-Between

In this stage of my life, I'm most comfortable in the in-betweens.
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As the old saying goes, "The journey is more important than the destination..."
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But what happens when you fall so in love with the journey that you no longer know the destination?
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I don't feel lost, but sometimes I wonder if I am.
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It's not for my lack of goals in general, because I have those- enjoy slow mornings, exercise and spend time on trails, read books that take me to far-off places, write poetry, write stories, dig deep into myself, feel all of the feelings, love freely, share kindness, always keep curiosity and a keep child-like sense of wonder.
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But, I don't have the "big" goals. I don't have X race, or X career move, or even have X [insert any societal big step] by Y date.
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Sometimes I wonder if my lack of big goals exiles and disconnects me from building community. I've seen firsthand the beauty of sharing and moving towards climactic conclusions and how some of the deepest connections are forged in those moments. It is vulnerable to declare a dream, an intent, a focus, and then ask for help and support.
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But for me, it feels like I'm stopping at every small mountain town exit and my highway journey doesn't end at a big city or a dramatic climactic conclusion. Maybe my climax is the highway. Maybe the dramatic conclusion is that the journey, my highway, is where I'm meant to be.
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I don't feel lost, I just feel... different. I'm not at the start and I'm not at the finish. I'm in the middle, and I'm in love with the middle even if sometimes it feels lonely.
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In a world that celebrated the milestones, I'm out here celebrating the miles, not the stones.