Thoughts on Thursday: What Does Sailing Have to Do With Reaching Your Desires?

Episode Summary

Sailing a tiny boat taught me 3 valuable lessons applicable to life goals.

Episode Notes

I learned to sail many decades ago in a tiny boat: an 8 foot by 4 foot El Toro, a single-handed, single-masted, fiberglass dinghy. I sailed her in the challenging waters of Norfolk, Virginia’s shipping lanes with crazy currents, shifting winds, freighters, container ships, and US Navy vessel traffic.

Navigating challenging conditions taught me valuable lessons applicable to life goals. Setting a clear Destination, having a well-defined Direction, and maintaining a single-minded Intention to my purpose were crucial for safety and success. As the skipper of my tiny boat I understood I could not control external forces but needed to work with them.   

Practical Tip:

My analogy underscores the importance of aligning purpose with planning to reach your desire. Adopting a single-minded and resolute approach to goal setting allows you to stay focused on your desired destination while adapting your plans to changing circumstances and  confidently facing unexpected events on your own terms. When you are doing the best you can with what you have all that matters is the time it took for you to fulfil your journey.   

Note 

If you want to see the tiny El Toro in action, check the Episode Notes for a YouTube link to a video recap of the 2021 El Toro Regatta at the Center for Wooden Boats at South Lake Union in Seattle.

Thoughts on Thursday: What Does Sailing Have to Do With Reaching Your Desires? written by Diane F. Wyzga in association with Beauty & the Beast Publishing. Photo: Center for Wooden Boats.