Not far from where we live is a two-mile stretch of road that winds through the woods and serves as a connector between our suburban neighborhood and the major metropolitan areas located to the south of our community.  At surface level, the road offers a means to get from point A to point B.  I’ve traveled this road dozens, even hundreds of times over the years to get to the places I want or need to go.  The road itself doesn’t change.  It maintains its same physical features, such as its curves and its length.

At a deeper level, however, I know that while the route itself may stay the same, each trip I take along the road well traveled is a unique adventure.  Different circumstances might affect the journey.  For example, my drive might be clouded by treacherous conditions resulting from rain, snow or ice.  The excursion might become a bit unnerving as a result of the deer lurking at the side of the road that threatens to become an unexpected obstacle along the route.  Or, my ride might turn into a stressful and dangerous experience as a result of the tailgater who materializes out of nowhere and suddenly decides to cross the double yellow line in the midst of a bend in the road to pass me.

The purpose of the trip also impacts the travel experience.  The excitement surrounding the drive to the hospital in anticipation of the birth of a child.  The adventure of traveling to the airport to embark upon the much-anticipated family vacation.  The somber trip to the church for the funeral of a loved one.

Regardless of the circumstances or purpose of my drive along the road well traveled, there are times when I’ve been so focused on the road itself that I’ve missed out on experiencing the adventure of the journey.  Times when I failed to take notice of the water as it skipped over rocks in the river that meanders along the side of the road.  Times when I missed out on catching a glimpse of the budding trees in the spring or the vibrant colors of the leaves in the fall.  Times when I didn’t take opportunity to wave to the horses and their passengers I passed along the way as they enjoyed a leisurely roadside stroll.

I wonder how much more meaningful and memorable those excursions would have been had I just taken the time to enjoy my surroundings?

Similar to the road that gets me to where I need to go, a well-traveled daily routine offers a means to get from point A to point B.  While it might not be as predictable as the physical features of the road, there is familiarity in a routine.  There is comfort in getting up and going through similar motions each morning to prepare for the day ahead and following a regular schedule to help navigate through daily life.  And, just as they affect the journey along the road well traveled, circumstance and purpose impact a well-traveled routine, rendering each day a new adventure.

But just how often do we allow ourselves to become so bogged down in that well-traveled routine that we lose site of our surroundings and miss out on experiencing what is occurring right in front of us?

I will admit there are times when I get so caught up in the madness of daily life that I fail to take notice of what is happening in the moment.   As an example, I recently had the chance to sit with my daughter on the sidelines of one of my son’s baseball games.  A rare opportunity indeed seeing that, due to her other commitments, it was about the only game she made it to the entire baseball season.

Instead of truly being in the moment and appreciating the time we had together, I found myself more future-focused.  Instead of fully engaging in the conversations we shared that afternoon, I was more worried about figuring out what I was going to feed the kids for dinner before I had to taxi them to yet another event that evening.

I wonder how much more meaningful and memorable that afternoon could have been had I just taken the time to enjoy my surroundings and focused a little more on living in the moment?

Taking the time to notice your surroundings involves practice and commitment.  But you know what?   It makes the journey all the more worthwhile.  So whether it is a well-traveled road or a well-traveled routine you are following, make the effort to notice your surroundings and don’t miss out on the adventure of the journey.

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