When Has One "Arrived?"

So, I was pondering this question, in the wee hours of the morning, around the 4 o’clock hour, as I was placing homemade ham broth into containers for freezing - when do you know if you have “arrived?” It only introduced more questions that needed answers. So I decided inquiring minds such as mine might also be delving into the corners of their minds, swirling these odd thoughts, interested in the answer and decided that I would propose this question to the Universe (or whomever happens to stumble upon VOCAL and decides to take a gander at my writing.)

So, HOW DO you know when you have “arrived?” Do we ever “arrive?” Is the state of “arriving” different for each person? I believe it is most definitely the latter being that we each have our own unique trademarks, styles, dialects, accents, yada, yada, yada all-encompassing what separates each of us from everyone else.

I mean, ponder these questions for a moment. Have you “arrived” when you finally get THAT perfect job or achieve that certain yearly wage that catapults you into the "class" you deem makes you a success? Or have you “arrived” when you make a certain person proud of you or is it when you make yourself proud for meeting or exceeding one or a set group of goals? Have you “arrived” when you have achieved marital bliss and that perfect number of fat, rosy-cheeked, cherub looking children, in the perfect white-picket fence or modern deco home that you have always dreamed of? Have you “arrived” when you have traveled extensively or have you “arrived” if you are agoraphobic and just stepped outside for the first time in many years?

Have you “arrived” when you have achieved the “perfect weight” or have you “arrived” when you finally quit the negative self-talk about everything you salivate over and put in your mouth and the non-stop, self-loathing that you have been doing for years? Have you “arrived” when you walk into church and kneel at the alter like "a good Christian" or have you “arrived” when you walk away from a fellowship for good and various reasons to maintain your own mental and emotional stability?

Have you “arrived” when your family that has not spoken to you in many months lets you come for a short visit, but a visit nonetheless, or have you “arrived” when you remain separated from them until those that caused pain are ready to have a mending and lasting conversation? Have you arrived when your friends, family and coworkers adore you or have you "arrived" when you finally shed the mask, stop the masquerade and become your true self even if it means isolating yourself from them all? Or finally, must you wait until the whole world knows you as a household name to know that you have INDEED “ARRIVED?”

I think we being the homosapiens that we are, always striving, we will never fully “arrive" unless to "arrive" means that you have died. In which case, when we die, having then finally "arrived" what will we have arrived at though? Or what will we have achieved in that moment when we take our last breath in a gasp, gargle, scream or just passing silently amidst our slumber? That inquiring minds is for another discussion.

All we can avail ourselves to do is proceed forward, putting one foot in front of the other, striving to bestow upon each day our finest- even Monday’s *gag*! and do our best with whatever we have no matter how great or small. Perhaps then we will arrive at moments in our lives, that will catch our eyes, that will encourage and uplift us, and feed our souls as we continue pressing on.