SaturdayReflections: The Trip

Have you ever visited a place of such historic significance that you expected a life-altering epiphany, only to leave feeling blank? Today, I embarked on a much-anticipated trip to a historic site and museum. I imagined returning brimming with insights on human nature and the meaning of life. Instead, I was met with disappointment and a blank mind, wondering what to pen for my readers.

As I sat and pondered deeply, I recalled the early morning drive, the breakfast stop, the arrival, and standing in the queue. The guide, who seemed as prepared as a last-minute crammer before finals, led us through grounds marked by horrific acts of cruelty.

After the visit, I questioned how I should have felt and what should have happened. I thought maybe it was the wrong day or the wrong guide. But as I reflected more, I realized I had missed noticing the beauty of the morning sun on my face while driving, the shared meal, the winding roads, and the heavy rain.

This experience taught me that sometimes, the profound lessons of life are not in the places we visit or the history we encounter, but in the simple, everyday moments we often overlook. Despite the sadness and remorse I was supposed to feel, as I wrap this up, I feel grateful for living, for breathing, for driving, for the food, the music, and the laughter.