I think my life has been a series of mini mid life crisis’s over the last few years and I’m not sure if that is such a bad thing.  Lately I’ve had this feeling that’s very difficult to describe.  It is ever present but far away at the same time.  It lingers like the stench of a certain black and white critter but is as hard to grab a hold of as a wet water ballon in the middle of a summer war. 
    So I mentioned this mid life crisis thing.  I just recently got a motorcycle and yes I have heard nearly a half dozen times and I quote, “you don’t seem like the biker type.”  Yes, most observant friends and acquaintances, I do realize I don’t have a handlebar mustache nor do I wear cut off tees or leather pants.  I do however have this feeling that is pulling and poking that I think lead to my decision to buy the bike. 
    How many times have you worked really hard at something or spent so much time to reach a goal, only to achieve it and be disappointed once the goal has been reached?  Who of you remembers the fund raisers that we would have in elementary school?  Oh man, we would get these shiny brochures with many different toys and gifts.  The only thing we had to do was sell about a million Caramelo bars and we could be the proud owners of a remote control car!  Let me just tell you, the dang cars were always a rip and I never was very happy once I reached the goal.
    Just a few minutes ago I watched the very end of the Stanley Cup finals (hockey for you southern peeps) and even though I tried to rejoice with the players and coaches of the Pittsburgh Penguins, all I found myself paying attention to was how forced it seemed for many of the players to act as if this was the happiest moment of their lives.  Don’t get me wrong, I’m sure they are all having feelings of great joy while kissing and hoisting that large metal cup up in the air.  I just can’t quit wondering if it was really all they dreamed it would be?  Some of them I’m sure have dreamed about that moment since they were little tykes, but was the end really better than the means?  Was that final moment the best part, or was it the journey that got them there? 
    So why all the talk of motorcycles, hockey, and weird feelings?  I just want to get off my chest the fact that life is a journey, and the journey is the good part of life.  I jumped on that motorcycle and all of the sudden streets that I had driven hundreds of times in my car became alive and new.  The same streets that only served the purpose of getting me to work as fast as possible so that I can do all the things that will one day get me to my goals, now became something to enjoy.
    This feeling in me is one that is trying to let me know that while I am making big plans, I am many times missing the good, the journey, I’m missing life.  While this is in no way an original idea, it is like many well known ideas- one that most of us must let ferment in our lives to really grasp and understand. And unfortunately for me, I think it has taken longer than most.
    No matter what you believe about the meaning of life or why you are here, I think most if not all of us can agree on the fact that this next breath we will all breathe is an amazing, beautiful thing.
    While I in no way think it is bad to dream or aspire for huge things, I’m starting to wonder if most “bigger things” don’t take place when we are taking time to smell the roses.