Sometime ago, a friend said to me, "Life is a journey."  Recently, I had an occasion to speak to an honors leadership class at my college, and I decided to expand on the metaphor and share it with the students.  We had a delightful discussion which seemed to be well received.  Here are the "rules for the road" as we discovered them together.

In life, there are no shortcuts.   Seek wisdom, knowledge, and competence, then take on the important challenges along the way.

A long and difficult walk through a deep and dark valley helps us better appreciate the breathtaking vista from on top of the mountain.

When confronted by strangers, choose your battles very carefully.  Consider what is best for the long road ahead.

When storm clouds appear along the way, as they certainly will, look for the silver-lining.  There is always a silver-lining!

Always take the high road.  Do what is right for the right reasons.

In life, you only experience one journey.  Appreciate the path you choose, and learn from all of your experiences. 

A successful journey is measured by how you have traveled and by where you can go from here.

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