In a land called Life, paths criss-crossed the landscape. All the paths lead to different destinations. Some are straight; others are winding. Some are flat; others are rocky. And on these paths are people traveling. Some are in a hurry; others take their time. Some travel alone; others have companions.

I was one of those walking along one of those paths one day when someone brushed past me from behind. The young man turned around and took a glance at me, looking apologetic.

"Why are you in such a hurry?" I asked.

"I am looking for something," he replied as he tried to catch his breath.

"Have you found it yet?"

"No, I still haven't found what I am looking for."

"What are you looking for?" I inquired further.

"I want everything in a package."

"In LIfe, you can't have everything, especially so in a package. In the neighbouring land of Dreams you can have that. Here, you take the best you can find and make everything out of it"

"No matter. I'll keep looking anyway. What about you? What are you looking for?" he asked me in return.

"Me? I am not looking for anything. I am just enjoying the journey," I said, beaming with pride of my own self-sufficiency.

So we talked as we walked and the journey became interesting. The sun was shining, the bird were chirping and a gentle breeze rustled the leaves over our heads. It was a pleasant stroll. It was not long before we came to a fork in the road and we each picked a different path.

"Come with me," I urged, "Maybe you can find what you want if you travel with me."

"No, I have to look for what I want in a different place." With that, he picked up his pace again and continued on his search.

It became immediately clear after he left that the journey would never be the same anymore. I shouted out to him as he disappeared into the distance, uncertain if he could hear me at all, "If our paths ever cross again, I am walking the rest of the way with you."