We are tied to the ocean. And when we go back to the sea, whether it is to sail or to watch – we are going back from whence we came.

The cure for anything is salt water: sweat, tears or the sea.

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Anyone can hold the helm when the sea is calm.

We must free ourselves of the hope that the sea will ever rest. We must learn to sail in high winds.

Have you ever looked at life—yours for in this conversation that’s all that matters–as a sea of possibilities—first of all you have to come to grip with the magnitude of those possibilities—that like the sea they go on forever (or at least seem to) and that despite your resolve you’ll never realize even more than a very small percentage of those….I think that is what discourages many of us….we feel impotent in the face of all that is possible and so elect to stay put…to never go where we could or see what we want or do the things for which our memories would reward us.

So first I think that we must see our limitations and disadvantages, not as bad things but as a regulator on what is within our possibilities:

First there are the physical limitations:

If you are blind you will never see the ocean or wonder at the sky, but you can gain from the books (CD’s, brail or a good friend to read to you and add their own input on the matter–now that’s the best) the look and feel of it in your mind and best of all your heart.  You can go to the shore and listen to the waves beat against the land.  You can reach down to feel it or wade in and let it beat against you while you taste the salt on your tongue and when you get out you can feel the salt dry on your skin in sticky, scratchy reminder of it’s being.

Money and lack there of: I have told you about my trip to California by bus and later by a very gracious mother…both cost a minimal amount and both were entirely enjoyable.  Maybe you don’t have the money or the where-with-all to go to California, but isn’t there some place closer that might provide you with a weekend get away or a break from the 9-5 bleakness?

PROBLEMS BEYOND OUR CONTROL:  My husband and I who were avid race fans were in line for the Daytona 500 entrance to the infield (back when you went in just for a couple days, not like now) with our handy tent and supplies when they announce it was going to be down to freezing over the next two nights.  After a long talk we pulled out of line (which had finally started entering the speed way) and headed home as neither of us were up to sleeping in a tent at those temperatures.  My husband was bummed out–so while he was sleeping  I set the family room up in race décor and camping item.  I also got in touch with a few friends and we watched the races eating our camping menu surrounded by infield trivia and some friends that loved the races as much as us while we watched the race on the big screen TV….My husband’s mood was restored, especially when Sat nights temperature turned out to lower than had been predicted and another batch of friends joined us for the main race on Sun.

And then to some extent we must accept our limitations.

  No body can do it all…first I love knitted items but though I can knit I’m so slow that it is not something I really want to spend my time on–for instance a year for one sweater is a bit weird and discouraging.  What I’m trying to say is that if you hate heights mountain climbing may not be your best choice of activities, unless overcoming a fear of heights is higher on your list.

Also we need priorities  I love to travel and have been all over the US and about every 4-5 years I make it to Europe and mostly the UK cause that is what I picked for my in-depth travel needs….Pick what you like;  Sports, travel, knitting a cover for your house and so on…then work with that…there may be other things…I’m combining my trip to Europe with a 28 day period of wandering Cornwall to work on my book so it’s a win-win situation……but remember if you try to do too much you might be as bad off as if you do too little.    Planning an unreachable activity level can discourage you in the future to try doing anything at all.

Make a list check it twice and just pick the most naughty and nice.