Cross That Ocean One Paddle At A Time
Posted: February 26, 2015
I love it when I come across a really good quote. One that puts things in perspective. The kind of quote that gives us that extra understanding to figure things out just a little better.
So I’d like to continue my series of great quotes, this time from two adventurers. The first is from perhaps the greatest explorer of all time.
“You can never cross the ocean until you have the courage to lose sight of the shore.” -Christopher Columbus.
While we’ll probably never need to cross an actual ocean, we all have unknowns that we need to face. Whether it’s starting a new school, a new job or a new career, or just trying to make some new habits, it can be a daunting challenge.
What’s interesting about Columbus is that he was going counter to the idea back then that the earth was flat. Once you reached a certain point on the ocean, that was it. And no one knew what “it” was. So it was very risky, and against what was comfortable.
Leaving shore always is, whatever waters you happen to be sailing in. Raising a child comes to mind. Or fighting a serious illness, or even worse, both. Some of the things people are facing right now are just unfathomable. Just like with Columbus, their courage must be applied daily.
Even less critical things like weight loss can seem almost like an uncrossable ocean sometimes. Especially if you’ve tried and failed before. Or if you have a lot of weight to lose. But you have to leave the shore behind. And that brings us to our other adventurer.
“The most difficult thing is the decision to act. The rest is merely tenacity.” -Amelia Earhart.
Amelia was the first female aviator to cross the Atlantic Ocean by herself. But she’s probably most widely known for her last adventure in which she was lost over the central Pacific.
This was a woman known for her tenacity. Once she made up her mind to do something, that was that. Then it simply became a matter of figuring out the details.
Other people’s opinions never deterred her from making the attempt. Neither would the obstacles, no matter how large. While her end was tragic, she certainly lived at full speed.
So what oceans might you need to cross? What challenges do you need to overcome right now?
Losing sight of the shore means you’re going to have to step out of your comfort zone. But that’s where you make the greatest discoveries. So make a decision and just get started!