Journeys Over Destinations
I had a baby strapped to my chest, hot and squirming. One kid holding my hand tight while the other drags his feet behind us with a dramatic sigh. My daypack digs into my shoulder. Someone’s already asking for another snack.
If I hear “Are we there yet?” one more time, I might be the one who bursts into tears!
My hikes used to be about the destinations—waterfalls, summits, a sweeping vista. There were clear goals to get somewhere. But with tiny legs and even tinier attention spans, it never quite went as planned. We’d finally reach the big moment, and two seconds later, my kids were over it.
The walk back? A slow-motion meltdown.
Life often felt the same. One long push toward some shimmering finish line just out of reach, while I dragged a tired heart and aching body behind. Holding everyone together while quietly falling apart.
So I made a choice.
I started picking trails that didn’t lead anywhere in particular. Not “there and back again,” but soft, winding loops that returned us gently to where we started.
Those walks changed everything.
“Are we there yet?” faded into “Wow, look at that!”
“I’m bored!” became “I’ll race you to that bend!”
Each twist offered a new surprise—a flash of wildflowers, a climbable rock, a rustle in the trees. Tiny moments stacked into memories. We slowed down. We breathed deeper.
Now my kids are older. They love the big reveal of a summit or waterfall, sure. But our favorite hikes, the ones we return to again and again, are still the quiet loops that celebrate the journey. Laughing, talking, simply being together.
This shift—the one from chasing the destination to cherishing the journey—that’s what the Passages collection is all about.
These small oil pastel landscapes are more than roads and paths. They’re reminders to slow down, to find meaning in the middle, and to let go of the rush. To trust that growth and beauty live in the twists and turns, not just the finish line.
This is just the start of a short series I’m sharing about Passages—what these paintings mean to me, why landscapes keep pulling me back, and how this collection cracked something open that’s led me in a whole new direction with my art.
For now, maybe these pieces can be a gentle nudge for you, too—to notice the path you’re on, even if it doesn’t feel like you’re getting anywhere. Because sometimes, the journey is everything. The originals and prints are available now.
https://www.bekharrisart.com/originals/passages
I am so happy to share these pieces with you. They’re bright, encouraging and all about the moment. And they come directly from my heart!
