I am writing this on board a plane to Delhi to join a group of people I have never met before for the classic journey from Delhi to Kathmandu.
The trip is important to me – no less than 3 items from my bucket list to be ticked off – the Taj Mahal, the holy city of Varanasi and trekking in the Himalayas.
It has been a hectic couple of weeks working hard and I don’t really feel mentally ready for the holiday but I am determined to change that right now! I only have one task for the plane and that is to think about my ‘intent’ for the holiday so I don’t make the same mistake again! (see last blog!)
I have reminded myself of the importance of the 3 joy:
- The joy of looking forward to something
- The joy of being in the moment while doing it
- The joy of reflecting afterwards
So what is my intent for these 3 weeks – what exactly is it I am looking forward to?
In some ways I have looked forward to this for a long time – India has always been a country that I wanted to explore. Will it be the India of the Second Best Marigold Hotel? Is the Taj Mahal really the most beautiful building in the world? And will the Himalayas be as wonderful as I hope?
It has been helpful in thinking about what I am looking forward to think about what it is I want to return with.
I want to return feeling that:
- I have smelt India
- I have understood the Ganges
- I know a little about the Indian people
- I have had some time for reflection
- I have just enjoyed wandering the streets with no purpose
- I have made the most of my fellow travellers and learnt something of their lives
- I have had my first taste of the might of the Himalayas
- I have gained a bit more insight to this wonderful world of ours and how my life fits in it
That feels really clear to me – I can ask myself these questions on the plane on the way home and hopefully know I had the holiday of my dreams with all 3 joys fully present.
