“Still round the corner there may wait
A new road or a secret gate
And though I oft have passed them by,
A day will come at last when I
Shall take the bidden paths that run
West of the Moon, East of the Sun.”

―J.R.R. Tolkien

A quote about travel seemed appropriate today since I’m headed off on a trip this week. As usual, our friend Mr. Tolkien came through with eloquent words.

This is the Walking Song, two versions of which appear in The Lord of the Rings. The first is in Chapter 3 of Fellowship. The four Hobbits are singing it right before they encounter their first black rider. The version we have here is a slightly modified one that Frodo is singing to himself at the end of Return of the King when he and Sam are on their way to The Havens.

This is the second verse of the song. Fans of the movies will likely best know the third (final) verse, which was set to music and sung by Billy Boyd (Pippin) while Denethor was noshing on tomatoes as Faramir rushed into the hopeless battle at Osgiliath.

Traveling is full of excitement and new experiences, so it’s easy to get caught up in the feeling that you must do EVERYTHING when you visit somewhere new. Often this isn’t an issue. For most of us, travel is a rare luxury and we want to see all the sights while we have the chance.

But sometimes we try to see everything at the expense of enjoying nothing. I am guilty of this. In my household, I’m known as the one who “blows the whistle” when we travel. “Come on. On to the next attraction! Move it!”

And so, I write this as much for myself as anyone else: A single meaningful experience is worth more than a dozen photos that you’re going to post on Facebook or Instagram, then promptly forget. Often, when I look back on trips, my most cherished memories are of those moments I didn’t plan. So the next time you have an opportunity to stroll down a hidden path west of the moon or east of the sun, crumple up your itinerary and take it!

Note to readers: Each week, I share a fantasy quote and indulge my inner philosopher with a brief essay based on said quote. Share your favorite quote with me and I might feature it in a future newsletter! Email: dtkane@dtkane.com.