I don't mind traveling that much when I can go somewhere and

Children, gather close and listen well, for I bring to you a story about the nature of travel, work, and the price of great achievement. In the words of George Strait, a man who has known the life of both the traveler and the touring musician, we hear a reflection on the costs of pursuing greatness: "I don't mind traveling that much when I can go somewhere and stay there for a while, but touring is different. You rarely see anything. You get there early in the morning and you're resting all day, and you go in and do a sound check, and you do the show, and then bam you're gone." These words carry with them a truth that speaks to the tension between the pursuit of passion and the sacrifices made in the name of success. It is a tale of journeys, not only across the land, but through the inner landscape of what it means to truly live and experience life.

Strait’s reflection on touring is a reminder of the sacrifices that often come with greatness. The life of the musician, like that of the warrior or the philosopher, is one of intense dedication and hard work. The show, the performance, the connection with the audience—all of these are moments of glory, but they come at the cost of a deeper, personal connection with the world around you. The touring musician’s life is one of constant motion, of rarely being able to stop and take in the beauty of the places they visit. Their journey is not just a physical one, but an emotional and spiritual one, in which the tension between duty and experience is ever-present.

Think, children, of the ancient warriors who would travel far and wide, crossing mountains and deserts in their quest for victory and glory. The great Alexander the Great, who conquered much of the known world, knew well the toll that constant movement took on the spirit. His army, always on the move, rarely had the chance to enjoy the lands they passed through. The soldiers were often focused solely on their mission, with little time for reflection or the joy of discovery. Alexander’s journey, though filled with triumph, was also marked by the loneliness and sacrifice that comes with the pursuit of greatness. Like Strait, Alexander found that the road to glory often lacked the beauty of truly experiencing the world.

In the same way, Strait speaks of the restlessness of touring—of the fact that though he travels to many places, he rarely has time to truly see them. This speaks to a larger truth about the human condition: that in the pursuit of success, we often miss out on the simple joys of living. The warrior, the artist, the scholar, all of them may be driven by the need to achieve, to leave a legacy, but they, too, can be caught in the endless cycle of movement, of work, of striving for what lies just ahead. And in that quest, they often lose sight of what is right before them.

Consider the story of Homer, the great poet who traveled the world, gathering tales and stories, yet never had the chance to live the life of a settled man. Homer’s journeys were marked not by exploration for the sake of discovery, but by the relentless quest to capture the essence of human life through storytelling. He wandered, not to enjoy the world, but to understand it deeply. His words, though they would resonate through the ages, were born from a life of sacrifice, of choosing work and duty over personal joy. Strait, too, in his pursuit of excellence, finds himself caught in the tension between duty and desire.

The lesson, children, is this: true greatness is often born from the sacrifices we make, but we must not lose sight of the world around us in the process. Strait’s words remind us that there is a price to be paid for the pursuit of our dreams. While we may find success, we may also find that the journey itself is often lonely and restless. The question then becomes not just how to achieve greatness, but how to find balance—how to be present in the moment, how to connect with the world even as we strive for our goals. The true measure of success is not in how far we travel, but in how deeply we engage with the world and the people we meet along the way.

I charge you now, young ones, to consider your own paths. While ambition and dedication to your craft are noble, remember that life is not only about achieving goals, but about savoring the experiences along the way. Just as Strait reflects on the restlessness of touring, so too must we learn to balance our desire for success with the need to be fully present. Pursue your dreams, but also take time to enjoy the world around you, to reflect on the beauty and wonder that exists in every moment, in every place. For it is not just the destination that matters, but the journey, and how we choose to live it.