From Point A to Point B

Why the Journey Is Always the Story

The Setup

I once had a part in a one-month journey. There were many questions about how it was going to be: Where are we gonna go? What are we gonna do?

We kept asking the organizer. He just said:

“We’re gonna go from point A to point B… and something will happen along the way.”

It hit me hard. That one line stuck. It was simple, true — and I knew I’d use it someday.

Because that’s life. It’s not about getting to the destination. It’s about everything in between.

What Happens Between the Points

It matters who’s on our side when we go. Who joins. Who leaves early. What we feel. What we miss. The in-between is the actual story.

I used to think I’d be happy when I reached point B. Or point C. But the expectation of getting there often blocked me from hearing what was happening around me.

And I missed the most important part.

The rushing. The slowing down. Getting tired. Laughing. The views. The things I saw for the first time in my life — plants, animals, people.

Even the silence after rest. That was the real stuff. Not the goal, but the going.

A Lesson at Work

It didn’t only happen on journeys or big trips. I started noticing it in regular days too — even at work.

Once, during a shift, I decided to slow down. Instead of rushing, I watched how my friend worked. It turned into a great experience.

I was able to really see her. To feel how she was expressing herself. I even noticed how she kept the station cleaner than anyone else.

That’s what I was missing for a big part of my life. It’s hard to hear others when we’re too busy talking. Our own thoughts get loud and want to be heard — but we forget to make space.

There’s always something to learn. Something to understand. A moment to process. If we gave people space and asked the right questions — we could really dive into how others see the world.

Whether it is making coffees, painting, or anything in the world...

Colorblind Glasses

Some people who are colorblind have a chance to wear glasses that let them see colors for the first time. There are videos of it on YouTube — and some people cry. Because they never saw it that way before.

That’s the power of perspective. We never know how others see the world — until we slow down and try.

A Music Analogy

I’ve been inspired many times by how others perceive things. In ways I could never figure out myself.

Like instrumental music — no words needed, but still full of story. A story created by the life experience of the person who made it. Like Japanese music using unfamiliar instruments — you can hear a whole world in it.

But the ear, the eye, and the mind — they need training. They need silence and attention.

Once your mind is trained, there’s a deeper understanding. You stop judging. You become curious.

When someone plays differently, you don’t try to correct them. You listen. You say, “Wow. I’ve never heard that before. What’s behind it?”

From Hearing to Listening

To hear something is one step. To listen — really listen — is to open a door. It’s how we get familiar with what we don’t know yet.

That’s how we grow.

Final Reflection

So next time you're chasing your own point B... Maybe pause. Look around. Listen. That’s where life is happening.