I wanted to share these lines from “Song of the Open Road” by Walt Whitman. They remind me of the joys of traveling: the breathtaking sights, exhilarating pace, interesting people, and personal reflections that one encounters on the road. These lines also inspire me to reflect upon the overall meaning of life’s journey:
 
Allons! whoever you are come travel with me!
Traveling with me you find what never tires.
 
The earth never tires,
The earth is rude, silent, incomprehensible at first, Nature is rude and incomprehensible at first,
Be not discouraged, keep on, there are divine things well envelop’d,
I swear to you there are divine things more beautiful than words can tell.
 
Allons! we must not stop here,
However sweet these laid-up stores, however convenient this dwelling we cannot remain here,
However shelter’d this port and however calm these waters we must not anchor here,
However welcome the hospitality that surrounds us we are permitted to receive it but a little while.
 
Allons! the inducements shall be greater,
We will sail pathless and wild seas,
We will go where winds blow, waves dash, and the Yankee clipper speeds by under full sail.