Thursday, April 14, 2016

~Article from my WINTER 2016 Newsletter~
 
FIND A WAY....
 
I love the beginning of a new year.  I say goodbye to my last year's goals and start a whole new list of goals I want to accomplish.  I map out how I am going to achieve these aspirations and get really excited about the future.

This whole process, this year, made me think of an interview I watched with long distance swimmer Diane Nyad.

For those of you who aren't familiar with Diane Nyad, she was the first person to swim from Cuba to Florida without a shark tank.  But there is so much more to her extraordinary accomplishment....

The swim from Cuba to Florida was considered impossible....for anyone.  It is 110 miles in shark infested and jellyfish infested waters.  There are storms and currents that make this feat extremely difficult.  A person must deal with lack of sleep, extreme physical exertion and potential salt poisoning, dehydration and hypothermia.
 
Diane Nyad first attempted this swim in 1978.  She was 29 years old.  She failed. 
It wasn't until 33 years later that she would try again.  Yes, you read that correctly....33 years later!

This swim was considered impossible....for anyone....particulary for a woman and especially for a woman in her sixties!

Her first attempt was in 2011.  Due to strong winds and currents that pushed her miles off course, she was forced to end her attempt.

Her second attempt was also in 2011.  After 41 hours of swimming, she had to stop after repeatedly being stung by jellyfish and man-o-war sting rays.
 
Her third attempt was in 2012.  She had to stop short of her goal due to 2 storms and again, jellyfish stings.Finally, on her fourth attempt, in 2013 at the age of 64, she completed the 110 mile swim after 53 hours in the water.  Totally and completely amazing!
 
In this interview, she was asked what she would tell someone who was pursuing their goals and having difficulties.  She simply answered "find a way....just find a way".
 
I know from experience that the path to my goals, that I map out at the beginning of the year, will not be the path I end up taking.  Things change, obstacles present themselves, and life happens.
 
As you pursue your goals this year, your path may change as well.  You too, may run into a "group of jelly fish" or hit "turbulent waters".  These events may force you to revise your plans.  And when this happens, don't sweat it.  Stay open-minded and flexible, and as Diane Nyad so pointedly stated, JUST FIND A WAY!
 
    ~To be added to my quarterly newsletter, please e-mail me at vedelidesigns@gmail.com~