Have you ever been so focused on the destination that you overlooked the details that make it possible?

I was looking forward to getting back on my favorite running trail this week. As I stretched before leaving, I set my phone on the back bumper of my truck, just as I have done many times before. The only difference was that I was running later than usual, and I was eager to get on the road.

A couple of miles into the drive, I reached over to the center console for my phone. It was not there.

My stomach sank.

The last place I remembered seeing it was on the back bumper.

I pulled over, fully expecting to retrace my route in search of a shattered phone. Instead, I found it still clinging to the bumper as though it had decided to give me one more chance.

As relieved as I was, the experience reminded me how easily excitement about the main event (family gathering, concert, vacation, morning run on the trail, etc.) can distract us from the small details that support it.

The little things rarely receive the applause, yet they are often the reason the big moments succeed.

Don’t let the routine details steal the joy of the activities you love. Instead, embrace them as the foundation that makes the activities possible.

And yes... the photo is proof that my phone survived the ride. Next time, it will be riding inside the truck instead.