I biked to work the other day. While I was biking, I was practicing a few dorky vocal exercises because I need to record some vocal tracks to a song before this weekend (I’ll explain after this weekend). It reminded me of a ride from over 10 years ago. I was biking from SAP in Walldorf, Germany (where I used to work) to my little dorf on the Neckar river. I was climbing a hill on a small country road. I was feeling good, had a comfortable pace, and, in my joy, began singing R.E.M.‘s “I am, I am, I am Superman, and I know what’s happening. . .”

Just as I finished loudly and boldly singing that phrase, I glanced over to the small farm house I was passing. Standing there, frozen, was a young, blonde-haired teen farm girl, staring perplexedly at the crazy American. I laughed to myself and road silently on – well, silently until I knew I was out of ear shot anyway. . .

What’s funny is that I totally enjoyed that ride. Every bit of it. I can still smell the tall field grass, feel the warm sun on my back and even hear the light breeze blowing through the trees along the roadside on that late summer’s day. I wasn’t really in a hurry. I was happy to be experiencing that moment in completely new surroundings and just soak in it all.

Fast forward to my ride yesterday.

I’m biking as hard as I can, racing to get to work, pushing my heart (and legs) as hard as they can go. . . and missing everything between point A and point B.

The thing is – I actually know that life’s real meaning is found “in the journey” (and all those other clichés). Truthfully, I hate the clichés. But, unfortunately, at least in this case, it’s true. It is “in the going” that we live life. It’s where all the real “life” truly happens.

How much do we miss – around us, right now – as we race forward, focused only on the future?

Too much.

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(This should have been posted a week ago…but I went on vacation)

I really don’t travel much for my work. Not anymore. I used to. But that’s another post.

The last 10 days have been a bit of an anomaly. 10 days, 4 countries, tons of meetings, tons of new people.

Normally, I work from home. And, for those of you who do this, you know how hard that can be. You know how everyone [who doesn’t work from home] thinks it’s so great, but they never see the challenges, the isolation, and the discipline you have to have (and which most of us do – if you want to stay credible). They also don’t see how hard it is to separate work from your home life. It all becomes one.

It’s all a part of life.

One of my visits was in Germany. My wife and I lived and worked there years ago and that experience will always be one of our favorite times. (I’m sure I’ll post on that more. . . )

Going back to Germany messes with my mind. I love the way of life. The challenge of working in another language. Working/living in another culture. You can NEVER know it all when you are in a culture other than your native culture. It’s humbling.

Even more humbling is working in countries where you really don’t know the local culture or language. I had some meetings in Brno, Czech Republic. What a cool little place. This company I was working with is filled with young, energetic, animated, and hopeful employees. Not what you might expect from the Czech Republic. I love it when my attitudes are shifted to better understanding.

I’m not sure what my point is here. I’m pensive in Philadelphia, waiting for my final flight connection home. The thrill of new people, new cultures and simply touching other lives is so refreshing that it messes with all of my “what I want to do when I grow up” thoughts.

Would I give up “what” I do just to be in a specific type of environment – almost regardless of what it was I was doing to be there? That’s an interesting question.

I’ll ponder that on my next flight. Thankfully, this trip has been smoother than my last business travel.

Maybe I’ll stop all my lofty questions when I get home, hug my wife and kids, and simply be thrilled with all the great things/work/situations I already have.

That would be something.

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