The Buddhist and The Beetle

This morning, as with most mornings, I awoke early to get my daily 2.5 mile walk done and out of the way. Being on vacation, I had new terrain to cover, not the usual scenery passing me by as I made my way through the neighborhoods along such street names as Scrapbook Lane, Gasoline Alley, and Presidio Circle.
This day I would speed up my pace and go a little farther and faster than usual. I planned for a 3 mile walk instead of the usual and hoped to complete the walk within 30 minutes. Starting out I set a fast pace and thoughts of a successful finish were racing in my head. That's when I saw the beetle; a large Rhinoceros beetle on its back lying on the curb being ravaged by about half a dozen angry ants. I stopped my walk, brushed off the helpless beetle, sat him upright in a safe location, and resumed my walk withing a few minutes time. Immediately I realized my goal of 30 minutes wouldn't be achieved today. I had failed, or had I?
As I continued my walk I again passed by what had become familiar street signs in the last few days; Scrapbook, Gasoline Alley, Presidio. Presidio Circle made me think of San Francisco, which made me think of the Golden Gate, which made me think of new found friendship and peppermint tea. I turned the corner toward our vacation home and felt the warm rays of the sun break through the trees, and then the epiphany overcame me. It's not about the race, it's about the journey. The Buddhist in me smiled. I had won the race after all. Yeah, it's all about the journey.