Furthering Your Progress Towards Your Goals by Sailing into the Wind — Daily Quote

I love being in the spray, speeding across the lake’s surface with waves crashing into the hull. The boat slams into the trough, bouncing hard, water sprays, the motor turns, and the propeller spins, driving us forward. I am anxious, exhilarated, and aware of the dangers lurking in each swell. If we capsize, chances are, I will drown because I cannot swim. I don’t let it stop me. I take precautions.

Sailing fascinates me. It is intuitive that sailboats, with the wind at their backs, can easily reach their destination. But how do they return when it blows straight at them? Shooting into the wind is a misnomer that requires physics. You place the boat’s centerline at an angle to the wind, catching the sail, while the wind’s force and the water act on the keel to send the boat racing forward diagonally to the desired harbor. Alternating from a port tack to a starboard tack sends the vessel in a zig-zag course home.

I see similarities in reaching my goals. Some days I run with the wind, moving faster than the gale with little effort on my part. Then the winds change, and my progress demands tacking and jibing to advance toward my target. I could blame the air currents for my shortfall, or I can work with what I have, set my course, and adjust my sails.

How are you doing on your goals?

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Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer