Shangri-La

I have been to Shangri-La.  Of course, we all know what Shangri-La is, right?  Well, probably not.  For the literary minded people out there, you will recognize Shangri-La as the utopian community in the 1933 novel Lost Horizon by James Hilton.  It's actually a very good story if you haven't read it.  Of course, being that the book is a fictional story about a fictional place, I could not possibly have been to that Shangri-La.

For the more philosophically minded people, you may know that "Shangri-La" has become a metaphor for a place of true peace and tranquility.  Given that, it is in fact possible to go to that place, Shangi-La, at least metaphorically.  We all have our favorite places, and for me there's nowhere better than our lake cabin.  But in truth, it would not be accurate to call even our cabin utopian.  But, to be sure, I have indeed been to Shangri-La.

So where is this magical place of total peace and tranquillity?  I suppose one could say it isn't actually a place per se, but more of a state of mind; you can create your own Shangri-La by putting your mind at peace.  One could also say it is everywhere, for much the same reason.  If you are truly feeling at peace, it really doesn't matter where you are.  That's why all those goofy people sitting on mountain tops can be so peaceful while appearing miserable to us.  One thing is certain; if you cannot find happiness where you physically are right now, you won't find it by going someplace else.

And that's how I know I have been to Shangri-La.  I loved the town I grew up in, but right after high school I went into the navy.  I went to a number of places and I loved them all.  Shortly after I got married I had to move to San Diego, and I really loved it there (not much not to love about San Diego!).  I have had business trips from Hong Kong to Mexico and all over Europe, and I thoroughly loved every place I went.  The biggest test was that for the past two and a half years I had to live away from my family in Plano Texas (definitely not the same as San Diego).  While there were obvious difficulties, for the most part I truly enjoyed it.  Now I'm back home, and of course I have my lake cabin, and like I said, there is nowhere better than that.

So where is Shangri-La?  For me, I carry it with me where ever I go.  It is every place, it is no place, it is my place.  Maybe it is purely a state of mind.  If it is, I wonder why more people don't choose to go there once in awhile.