How Do You Know When You’ve Arrived?
I’ve walked some hard trails over the years. The Koko Crater Trail in Hawaii felt like climbing a stairway straight into the sun. Angel’s Landing in Utah pushed every ounce of courage I had. And the trails in the Virgin Islands, well, they weren’t steep, but the humidity made them brutal. It felt like the air itself was working against you.
And then there was today a six-mile walk along Minnesota’s North Shore. This one has been on my wife’s bucket list, and what a day it turned out to be. Exceptional for mid-October. The sun was out, the temperatures were perfect, and the fall colors were showing off like they knew it was their last big moment before winter. The trail wound through birch and pine trees, and the leaves looked like they were painted by God Himself. It was one of those walks where you just slow down and take it all in.
As I walked, I kept thinking about something that’s hit me on other trails — how do you know when you’ve arrived in life?
Every hike has that point where you wonder why you’re doing it. Your legs ache, your lungs burn, and part of you wants to turn around. But curiosity keeps you going. You just have to know what’s ahead. And almost every time, when you finally get there, the view and the experience make it worth it.
Last night, I watched a movie called A Soul on Fire. One line stood out to me something the dad said: “We won’t have perfect lives, but we have to enjoy the moments. Stop looking back at what we’ve missed or what’s not perfect.” That line stuck with me. It’s easy to miss what’s right in front of you because you’re too focused on what didn’t work out or what’s not exactly the way you hoped.
That’s what today’s walk reminded me of the importance of being present. Not chasing perfection, not comparing paths, just taking the next step and noticing the beauty around you.
There’s a verse that says, “Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal.” It’s a reminder that life’s not about checking off destinations or reaching some picture-perfect version of success. It’s about walking, learning, and trusting as you go.
Today’s trail was full of color, sunlight, and peace but the best part was realizing that maybe the “arrival” we’re chasing isn’t a place at all. Maybe it’s a mindset. Maybe it’s when we stop looking back, stop waiting for perfect, and just enjoy the moment we’re in.