The Joys Of A Journey In Annie Dillard's Painting As A Pastime

The joys of a journey are found during the travel rather than at the final destination. Winston Churchill emphasizes this idea in his work Painting as a Pastime, highlighting how challenging tasks hold their treasures regardless of the outcome. Annie Dillard's memoir, An American Childhood, reinforces Churchill's belief as she finds satisfaction in various childhood tasks, despite their disappointing results. Whether searching for coins in an alley and finding only one, realizing that children who draw often become architects—a career she lacks interest in—or daring to attempt the impossible feat of flying, Dillard derives enjoyment from the experiences rather than focusing on the results. Churchill believes in the importance of pursuing challenging

One afternoon, Dillard shows her father an ancient coin she finds. Her father tells her older coins have a higher value than newer ones. After hearing this, Dillard continues to look for more old coins, hoping to accumulate wealth. Reflecting on her coin-finding journey, she writes, “Treasure was something you dug up out of the dirt in a chaotic, half forbidden, forsaken place far removed from the ordinary comings and goings of people… That I never found another coin in that particular alley didn’t matter at all” (Dillard 41). Dillard is unbothered by the fact that she never finds another old coin in that alleyway. Instead, she directs her focus toward her memory of looking for coins. She describes the alley as "half-forbidden," infusing her memory of the coin hunt with excitement. Dillard's determination and lack of disappointment in the absence of additional findings align with Churchill's belief that pleasure stems from the process of undertaking tasks rather than solely relying on the outcome. This sentiment rings true for Dillard as she reminisces about the joy she derived from searching for coins rather than fixating on the result of her efforts. Her experience is a testament to Churchill's assertion that the fulfillment found in challenging endeavors is not dependent upon the