Story time: I have a friend who loves to sail, who once shared a profound insight about this passion of his. He said, in essence, when you get into a boat you pick a point on the horizon and then you move towards it, adjusting the sails and using the currents and your knowledge of the ship and sailing to get you there. You don't step into the boat without any goal, and then just sit there in the harbor and see where the wind and waves will take you. They may take you no where. They may thrash you against the shore or rocks, or they may move you far out to sea and get you lost or too far from resources. If you don't adjust your sails, steer your rudder, and step out with purpose, you are missing the entire point of the sailing. Also, these things that without purpose and a goal can be destructive, can actually be the forces that help get you to your destination if you let them be, and if you harness them as you are meant to, to get you where you want to go.
With it being a bright new year, I thought I'd share a quote that encompasses a small portion of this sentiment, that serves as a good reminder for a goal I hope to have this coming year, whatever comes (and let's hope all good things).
This is also a great quote for an office wall, or framed somewhere in your home as a reminder to keep attitudes adjusted to whatever comes.
We can't direct the wind, but we can adjust the sails. We can't control everything that will go on around us or in the world, but we can choose our attitude, and how we allow that "wind" to move us--either to a directed goal, or further from it, or to no-where in particular at all. I can harness the winds and waves, or let them move me at their will. I don't know about you, but I'd rather act that be acted upon. I'd rather be in control of what I can. And my attitude it something that I can control. And my desire to learn from experiences. Here's to great ones this year!
