When I was growing up in Miami, my best friend and I saved up and put our money together to buy a used 21′ sailboat.

It was beaten up and needed a lot of work. My friend paid to have the hull repaired, and a few of us chipped in to restore some fiberglass and do some paintwork.

My friend’s girlfriend at the time put on some finishing touches with custom cushions and curtains for the interior, and shortly after that, we set sail on the maiden journey. After a few short test runs, we made an overnight trip out to Elliot Key, about seven miles off the South Florida coastline.

Eventually, we were comfortable enough to go out every weekend, and sometimes during the week.

Each trip, we’d sail around the bay all day and eventually anchor out by the Key. We’d bring along a grill and some drinks, and we’d hang out. In the morning, we’d begin the trip back. It truly was an amazing time in my life.

One time a third friend of ours came along with us. We will call him Steve. Steve had never been on a sailboat, but owned a motorboat and often went out fishing and lobstering in the bay.

I don’t remember much about that particular trip, but I do remember Steve complaining almost the entire time about how long it was taking to “get there.” And it was at that moment it hit me.

See, the point of sailing isn’t a destination; it’s the sailing. The journey is the destination.

In our daily lives, many of us are in such a hurry to get from place to place, to climb the ladder, to rise in rank, or to achieve the next level of success, and we forget to enjoy the process and soak up the journey.

What I’ve learned is life happens on the journey. Success and accomplishments happen on the journey. Learning happens on the journey. Everything happens on the journey.

It’s good to have a goal, but in the end, it is the journey that matters most.

#CreateSomethingGreat

#WorkThatMatters

Photo by GEORGE DESIPRIS from Pexels