Destination Addiction – “A preoccupation with the idea that happiness is somewhere else”

I was on twitter scrolling through my timeline when I happened upon an article from XO Necole entitled “Do you suffer from Destination Addiction?” That term “Destination Addiction” hit me like a ton of bricks.  Even though I had yet to read the article, I felt like it somehow applied to me.

Destination Addiction pretty much revolves around the idea of “once I get here, then I’ll really be happy” or “I need to be “here” so my life can really take off.”

While reading the article I kept thinking “OMG this is me!” And after reading about Dr. Robert Holden (the man who coined the term) I was even more sure that he created that term only to describe me.

After reading these materials I started to do a little self evaluation and came to the conclusion that I’ve been addicted to destinations for as long as I could remember.

Going through life, I’ve always attached my hope to the distant future, the what ifs and could be’s. Now, there’s nothing wrong with thinking about the future or having a loose plan (I say loose because I believe God maps out your life and he gives instruction as you go) but if you have tunnel vision, only looking at the destination ahead, you end up missing the entire journey.

Two summers ago, me and three of my girlfriends drove from Georgia to Virginia and that was one of the best trips I’ve ever taken (mind you, Ive been to Canada, Anguilla, St Maarten,  and Miami etc..) and Virginia was okay but the road trip up there was what made this trip so memorable.

My girls and I talked about everything (and everyone lol) we ate mad junk food and made fun of each other lol It was the best. If we had taken the 1 1/2 hr plane ride to VA, we would have missed all those memories, the ones neither of us would trade for the world.

My point is, you have to stop and smell the roses and take in the scenery, cause if you don’t, life will just pass you by.

I know this might sound a little cliche but life is in the journey. The journey is what helps you develop and mature as a person. Its what prepares you for the destination.

After I realized that I was addicted to the destination, I promised myself that I would start enjoying life more and to not worry because God has a way of taking you where you need to be.

Xo,

Shiloh