The Journey of a Lifetime

What does it mean to make a journey? To undertake one? To set your focus on a path and follow through? How about just getting started?

Most of our lives, we ask what we want to do and what we want to happen in the future. It's normal to wonder. This is one aspect that I wish I saw more of within stories. I think it creates a tremendous amount of depth in a very short time, simply because the audience understands what the journey is. After all, that's why we ask ourselves those questions. Once we know where we're heading, it's easy to see our progress along the way.

And, once the journey starts, there are usually pretty obvious landmarks to guide us. However, if the journey's goal isn't all that clear, it can make for a very interesting journey. And, that's what stories are all about, since if there isn't interest then there isn't much of a use for the story. And it doesn't even have to be in the form of a quest, or something painfully obvious. It could be something as simple as rediscovering a passion for painting, or finding the name of a song, or even apologizing for a misdeed.

There are many sayings about how the joy is in the journey, and there's a ton of truth to that. But, it also is true that the journey is interesting and worthy of telling within the bounds of a story. I love going along for the ride, as a character runs along the path, for good or ill. It's exciting, interesting, and hopefully fulfilling. I doubt I'll ever tire of it.

- M