The theme for this post has been inspired by a good friend Mandy Allen. All members of John Thornhill’s Masterclass will know Mandy as a consistent visitor to their blogs, always leaving positive comments with her trademark “Enjoy the journey” sign-off. Life is a journey so it’s important to get pleasure from every aspect of it.

I have just returned from the best holiday I have ever had. I cycled with four friends to Swanage on the south coast, a  journey of around 150 miles. We took three days to get there, exploring via small rural roads and tracks and soaking up the absolutely beautiful English countryside. 

We took a ‘wrong turn’ on the way and ended up on the Ridgeway, a footpath / cycle way that cars cannot access – the views were astounding. I was already happy, but on the Ridgeway I can only describe my feeling as orgasmic - however it lasted for a couple of hours! :O) Swanage may have been our destination, but the journey was the holiday – and it was great.

On the way back, cycling up a one track road, I noticed someone sitting in the long grass with oil paints and a sketch book. He was painting the scene. Stopping to talk to him I discovered he  had packed in his 9 to 5  job eight years ago, and was making a living selling his paintings via the Internet. You can check his work at www.cotswoldsketchbook.co.uk

This was a real inspiration for me. Here was someone sitting in the beautiful English countryside, doing something he loved and earning a living at it. The Internet makes this possible, so make sure you choose to do something that gives you pleasure, that way you will Enjoy the Journey.

John McNally