Sense of arrival

The first time I’d heard someone mention a sense of arrival was in 2018, when I was working at a real estate firm. The charismatic new guy in sales couldn’t wait to show off what he knew. When the presenter got to the slide about building an elaborate shopping centre, the new guy’s hand shot up, “to create a sense of arrival,” he said. And he was right.

Turns out, a sense of arrival is that glorified moment of arriving, the tinkle of anticipation, the glimmer of hope that this is the place that will make a difference.

Since that time, I haven’t heard the expression being used again. Maybe because I’ve been away from real estate for too long. Or maybe because I’ve encircled myself with people who love the journey instead: There will always another destination to aim for, always another milestone to chase after. It’s not about the destination, it’s about the journey.

But what about the reality of being exactly here? What about a sense of arrival, right here? Maybe we’re all on our way somewhere, but we’re here now. And that’s something to pay attention to.

As we journey through life, going from one stage to another, from one point to the next, may we experience the journey as infinite moments of arrival. May we accept reality relentlessly. May we come as we are, and meet exactly here.