On our way to Krakow, sorry...on our rather adventurous way to Krakow, when we once had to turn back and pick up the people whom we left in the bus stop...waiting..so they were bought after us :) so on this way, we crossed the Tatra mountains. I have never been there before, but was amazed by it. The sun was shining, but we hardly noticed, while we passed by between the pine tree giants, that looked down at us with their royalty. I felt like I am so vulnerable in their presence..they are so ancient, and so wise..so much in harmony with the world, they are where they belong.
Curvy roads, going up and up, the tranquility of the forest absorbing the noises of the world...the traffic of my thoughts. We passed by small villages, deserted they seemed, snowy, the wooden houses calmly nested in the valleys hidden between the vast heights. Tiny windows, walls made of natural material...and on the porch, next to the houses there were piles of wood, chopped...prepared, ready to be put into the fireplace, inside the cozy, warm rooms. I imagined how great it would be, just to stop the bus, to tell the drivers to let me go..get out, enter a house like that, and stay there...forever...start the mornings early, give food to my chickens, my goats, sheep, then take care of the cows and horses. Start the fire, make the beds, take a stroll with my dog, check the forest, pray, bring home some winter berry, to decorate the house, to have something inside that represents the freshness of the frozen nature, then to cook a delicious lunch, using the homemade cheese, warm up some milk for the coffee, listen to music, time to time stop by the window and marvel at the stillness of the winter scenery, go over to the neighbour, to ask if he needs something from the shop, as I intend to walk to the center of the village, to send a letter to my family...finally after meeting and chatting with some people in the village, arrive home, already dark, getting warmed up by the fireplace, read a bit in my armchair, light a candle, and give thanks for all the joyous moments I experienced that day. In that moment...while sitting on the bus, it was just a dream...but I made a commitment, that I will go back there, that I will invest time and money into exploring the treasure of the Tatra.
Another thing I realized, while being on the way to Krakow was, that before...when I was traveling somewhere, I always kept in mind the goal. I knew that someone will wait for me at the destination, or that I will know the place, will have a program of what I will do upon arriving, and because of this, I was hardly able to enjoy the journey. I was complaining that the busride is too long, or that it is not comfortable enough. I was impatient, I could only concentrate on the goal, but neglected the way of getting there. But this time..as I was not at all sure of where I am getting (of course I knew I am going to Krakow, but had no idea how it will look, what I"ll find there and so on) I was enjoying the travel. I was even a bit afraid of how I will find my way, once I get to the bus station, so I had joy in every moment on the bus. I enjoyed the road itself, and this made every moment an arrival. Then I thought...also in my everyday life...so often I am just looking at the goal, and pass by so much beauty along the way, because I am only concentrating on "completing the mission" arriving to work, getting to the bank on time, or to the meeting with my friends..often I am on the way, but I do not pay attention, because it is only the goal I have in focus. This journey however taught me, that if I look carefully, and do not shift all focus to the achievement...I might as well just enjoy the ride too!
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