All my life I’ve been trying to internalize the phrase: it’s not about the destination, it’s the journey. And it’s been hard. It’s been extremely difficult to accept that the constant pain and struggle that has often become my perception of life is expected to be the journey I enjoy. That is until, I learned that there’s more to the saying:
“More than the destination or the journey, it’s about the company.”
These days my evenings have been filled with the laughter, panting gasps, and shared togetherness with 30 other boys as we smack my volleyball across my Amazon-bought net. The day starts with me taking my JBL to the park alone, laying in the grass as I listen to music alone. Then one person walks in. They laugh at my randomness. They join me. Then another comes. We set up the net, laugh at each other. Then another comes. We start playing 2-on-2. I start setting the ball for their spikes. I yell at them as they hit their first spike, dap them up as hard as I can, bump them with my chest with the intention of showing them just how amazing they are. And then they smile. And then we all smile. And then more people come in. Five. Ten. We start a real game. Music blasting. Another five. Another ten. The random indian uncle. His son. A friend I haven’t seen since 10th grade. All of a sudden I am no longer alone.
One of my friends described our games as the Avengers Endgame of boys from our class. I can’t tell you how happy that makes me. I can’t tell you how happy it makes me to bring smiles to the bored faces of my friends. I can’t tell you how happy it makes me to make another memory with the people I love the most in the world. Because we’re all here for each other. And we need to constantly remind each other. After all, the company is the most important right :).
Sometimes in the middle of volleyball games, I pause and look around. Sure sometimes I lose the point, but the truth is I’m winning. I’m winning as I watch my teammates laugh when they miss the ball or hit the sickest spike of their life. I’m winning as I watch everybody stick together. Life feels slow in that moment. With the right people, life feels different. Life doesn’t feel like that it’s about that arduous journey.
Last week, I was struggling with the concept of the relationships around me. I was uncertain of how close I truly was with my loved ones. I didn’t think they understood my life. But they are my life.
The company around me is my life.
More than the arduous journey, whatever destination I keep changing to chase, my life is the people around me. Nikhil Sinha is a culmination of the people he’s met. The people he’s absorbed.
I am lucky to be surrounded by so many people. To be loved by so many people. Earlier this year I learned to love. I understood how to open up my heart. I will be forever grateful for her because as a result, I’ve finally understood what’s important to me in my life.
Before anything, it’s the company.