Movies and stories that use the Hero’s Journey as a plot template rarely show much of the final stage of the Journey: Returning to the Village with the Magic. At the most, that stage gets a few seconds with the Hero smiling and an upswelling of music. But to me this stage is the most important one — the absolutely critical stage that makes your journey a (capital-J) Journey, not just an adventure or a learning experience.

Last month I took a vacation to the Canadian Rockies on the train, the Rocky Mountaineer. While it was a great experience, on the drive home from the airport, I reveled in the anticipation of reaching home. I had a suitcase full of dirty laundry and a stuffy house but I could barely wait to get to “my own bed,” no matter how luxurious the vacation hotels were.

I’m sure you’ve had that same experience. Remember the last time you came home from a trip? What is the magic of that feeling? Is it safety? Is it the stamp you’ve made on the apartment or house? Is it being around your family and neighbors? Maybe it’s also the welcome of your pet (they don’t care what you’ve done, just that you’re back).

When you combine that “coming home” feeling with the opportunity to share what you’ve learned on your Hero’s Journey you have a unique moment. The moment is unique because only you can give it. Your experiences and knowledge lend authenticity no other lesson-learned could have. It touches those you share your Journey with on the deepest level because they feel how you’ve changed from going through the Journey stages.

Photo by Sasha Kim: https://www.pexels.com/photo/woman-walking-upstairs-8420957/