Today we visited the Taj Mahal, one of the seven wonders of the world. It was a place I have always wanted to visit. In fact, I thought it was the only place in India I wanted to see. It is a magnificent creation and, according to legend, a strong testament to one man’s love for his wife. But the biggest surprise for me with the Taj Mahal? How much it paled in comparison to the other experiences I’ve had during this pilgrimage!
This is a big lesson for me for two reasons. First, I realize that an impersonal tourist destination does not have the same value for me as deep connection with people. But more important, I realized it is not the site I visit that brings meaning to me at all. I am the one who is responsible for bringing meaning to the site. At the Taj Mahal, I had imagined a fantasy scenario of romantic connection with my husband. Instead, when we arrived, he went his separate way and I sulked in my disappointment rather than being clear about what I wanted and creating it.
In reality, I could have had a deep and meaningful experience but I didn’t choose to create that. These have been big themes for us during this trip – choice and creating my experience. The good news is that this was a huge opportunity to learn more about myself and to create a vision for doing it differently next time. I’m immensely grateful for this opportunity to learn and develop myself.
Tags: Bob Wright, india, Judith Wright, Personal Growth, pilgrimage, spirituality, taj mahal, wright leadership institute
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