It’s been a while, but I remember watching Shrek 2 and laughing at the ultimate annoying road trip question: “Are we there yet?” And Donkey did it so well; and by “well” I mean that he managed to be extremely annoying.
I love road trips because I enjoy the promise of the open road. You pack all your favourite CD’s, or create a playlist on your iPod; you pack snacks and drinks; you dress comfortably, put your shades on and prop your feet up on the dash (rebellion at its best, because we all know our parents would never allow us to do that). Even if you are not traveling very far, it’s still a wonderful feeling to get into your car and head towards a new place. I think it’s the sense of adventure that’s so enjoyable. And then, of course, it’s also about your road trip companions.
I have, however, been asking “Are we there yet?” because of a not-so-fun reason. In all honesty, I have to admit that this year has been feeling a bit long. I’m pretty sure it doesn’t just have 365 days…there’s definitely more! This road trip is a long one, and you know how your bum starts complaining when you’ve sat down too long? Well, I think this year has reached the “numb bum” section a long time ago.
The CD’s have been on repeat one too many times and the snacks are all gone; your feet are red from being propped up on that dash in the scorching sun, and even your road trip buddies are starting to become annoying.
To be honest, I have no idea how to get over the “Are we there yet” feeling at the end of a long and tiring year. But there is one piece of advice I could give you: Don’t make rash decisions.
Don’t quit your job at this time of the year; don’t get into a fight with your friends and run the risk of ruining your friendship; don’t lose focus of why you made the resolutions or decisions you made at the beginning of the year; and especially don’t give up on your reliance on God.
It’s so extremely easy to make these emotional decisions when you feel weak and exhausted, but remember, you are stronger than that. You’ve been through more than one “Are we there yet?” moment and you’ve made it to the other side…alive (might I add).
So, stop at the next petrol station, give your numb bum a rest, get some yummy snacks and tackle the rest of the journey with renewed strength.
Now…where did I put my Bon Jovi CD? It’s time for the last leg of the road trip…let’s do this!