Finding True Happiness: Why It Shouldn’t Only Depend on Results

The first day arriving in Bariloche was very exciting. I’ve always felt that the name Patagonia itself carries a legendary aura.

I stayed here for a total of 9 days, which is the longest I’ve stayed in one place continuously during my 7 years of traveling. It’s not because of its nickname “Little Switzerland of South America,” as I’ve seen plenty of Swiss scenery. Mainly, it’s because I wanted to slow down the pace of my travels and arrange more outdoor activities; the rush of checking off places was too exhausting.

Every day, I embraced the beautiful nature, and although my feet still hurt, being in such an expansive place truly uplifted my mood.

One day, I went hiking on Cerro Otto, taking a rugged trail below the cable car. The path was steep, and the sun was scorching, making it very tiring. But as I climbed, the view of Nahuel Huapi Lake behind me became more and more spectacular with each increase in altitude. After reaching the summit, despite the strong wind that stung my skin, I saw other tourists who had taken the cable car up easily. I thought to myself,

“Happiness shouldn’t just come from the result, but also from the process.”

Although the view from the cable car is the same, the feeling of climbing up yourself is definitely different. Although people often say that it’s about enjoying the process, not the result, you can’t really understand it without experiencing it yourself. After all, our society is extremely result-oriented, and we generally judge success by outcomes.

If I hadn’t reached the summit, would I still feel happy about the process of climbing?

After pondering this question for half a minute, my answer was yes. Because I was happy during the climb, the happiness came from the beautiful scenery I saw along the way, the dopamine released from the exercise, and the anticipation of successfully reaching the top… Just because I might be disappointed later doesn’t mean I should ignore the happiness I felt before, just like how we can’t deny that we once loved someone just because we broke up, right?

Well, I digress—so you see, it’s not that we don’t know how to enjoy the process, but after the result comes out, we often focus too much on the emotions the result brings and forget the happiness we experienced during the process.

Two days after the hike, I hopped into a rented car and set off on the legendary Route 40, a 5,000-kilometer stretch that winds through Argentina and was immortalized in Che Guevara’s “The Motorcycle Diaries.” My first stop was El Bolsón, a vibrant hippie hub in Argentina. There, I witnessed the most breathtaking sunset of my journey from the top of a mountain. The sky was painted with hues of orange, pink, and purple, creating a scene that felt almost otherworldly.

Next, I headed north to San Martín and then continued south on a self-drive adventure through the Seven Lakes. This route is a classic one-day tour, but group tours often feel rushed, so driving at my own pace allowed me to savor every moment. While collecting all seven lakes didn’t summon a dragon, it did lead to an unexpected encounter with a curious little fox.

My favorite lake was Lago Falkner, with its serene waters and picturesque surroundings. If I hadn’t already booked accommodation back in Bariloche for the night, I would have been tempted to camp by the lake and spend the night under the stars.

Tomorrow, I will leave Bariloche and continue my journey south to El Calafate. Traveling alone has given me plenty of time for reflection, and I am grateful for your company as you read my musings.

To conclude, I’ll leave you with a quote from Jack Kerouac: “I’m young, and I long for the road.”