The Editing Eagle

It’s easy to get caught up in the planning and preparation of organising a holiday.

There’s much to think about—the dates, the times, the airfares, the accommodation, the currency, the activities. Not to mention suitcases, packing, airplane gadgets to enjoy your flight and researching the best places to visit and eat!

As with many things, it’s easy to get so caught up and overwhelmed by the process that you wish it over too soon. How many people have you heard say, “I can’t wait until this is over!” All the planning and preparation become an effort, and the emphasis goes on the holiday itself.

There’s something about the journey of life that teaches us it’s not just the big moments that are great; it’s also the little moments that make up that journey. 

It’s not just the job promotion—it’s also the steps you took to get there.

It’s not just the moment you move into your new home—it’s also the months spent researching houses and suburbs.

Holidays are wonderful, but don’t limit the time spent away to be the only enjoyable part of the journey. Enjoy the lead up too!

But how do we do this? It requires a change in mindset: the journey doesn’t start the moment I arrive; the journey starts now!

The process rarely feels fun. Yet it’s in the moments of planning a travel adventure that the adventure really starts!

If I only waited for the big moments in life to enjoy them, I would likely spend a lot of my life wishing, wanting and waiting—because life is made up of many small moments that are here to be enjoyed and treasured just as much as the big moments!

When planning a holiday, part of the joy is choosing where to stay, what sights to visit and what food to eat. It’s all part of the journey! Plus, all that research you do is learning. It helps add to your trip because once you arrive, you’ll remember that pre-travel preparation you did and all the things you learnt about culture or locations. It’s all part of it.

Anytime I seek to rush the process or hurry to get to the end result, I’ve learnt that this mindset doesn’t help me enjoy anything. If I can’t enjoy the journey, I won’t enjoy the destination. Enjoying the journey is about embracing the process, celebrating the milestones along the way, and not waiting for the “arrival” as the final thing to celebrate, but rather enjoying the steps you took to get there.

Here’s to the adventures of travel—the planning, the prep, the packing and the moments of the holiday itself!