Into the Wind: Charting your Course
Sailing with the prevailing winds would be an easy way to live a life. Advice is often like the prevailing winds encouraging someone to follow the easy common course. Sailing against the wind is about charting a life's course and making a choice to not just be blown around by the opinions of others.
I must admit that there is advice about going along with the wind at my back that I should have followed. My stubbornness does not always transfer to determined perseverance. However, the true life defining moments are when you stick your face in the wind and go against the advice that you receive. A life lived is having the courage to change your course and chose your direction.
My first life defining course change was deciding to be a teacher. The backlash I received from others was amazing. Why would you want to do that? You won't be able to support a family. The prevailing wind was that I should go into business to make money. I wanted the opportunity to "pay forward" the lessons I learned from Mrs. Wiley, Mr. Petric, Mr. Reigert and Mr. and Mrs. Edeburn. I wanted to make a difference in the lives of others. I choose to teach.
I knew the moment I met my wife that I was going to marry her. It took me a year to convince her to like me and another year to convince her to go on a date. Robin and I took on strong winds when we moved from being friends to a relationship. The prevailing winds were clear from some of our so called friends that we weren't right for each other. We still are not an eharmoney.com couple. Robin told her friends that children, dogs and old people like me and that I was good to her. I told my so called friends to go to he$*. The prevailing winds would have never put Robin and I together. Our true friends knew that our differences filled each other's gaps. We complete each other.
The hardest decision that I ever made to face into the wind and chart my own direction was to leave my hometown and move 200 miles. I always dreamed about living a life with a large extended family and life long friends. The prevailing wind of staying in Ashtabula and staying close to home was strong. Choosing to move to a growing demographic region would enable me to provide for a family and fulfill my desire teach. Central Ohio schools had a partnership with Ohio State enabling me to earn a masters degree at minimal costs. Going into the wind and moving to Central Ohio was life altering.
I understand that I am blessed with being able to choose to face the wind. Sometimes folks sail in turbulent winds and need to choose a path based on survival. Facing the wind is an opportunity about thriving.
I should have followed some trusted advice that challenged my thinking. There are times that sailing with the prevailing winds was the right choice. However, a life is lived when you face the wind and chart your own course. I am blessed that a greater force pushed me into the wind to marry Robin, to serve as a educator, and live in a community supportive to raising a family. I am still running into the wind.
I must admit that there is advice about going along with the wind at my back that I should have followed. My stubbornness does not always transfer to determined perseverance. However, the true life defining moments are when you stick your face in the wind and go against the advice that you receive. A life lived is having the courage to change your course and chose your direction.
My first life defining course change was deciding to be a teacher. The backlash I received from others was amazing. Why would you want to do that? You won't be able to support a family. The prevailing wind was that I should go into business to make money. I wanted the opportunity to "pay forward" the lessons I learned from Mrs. Wiley, Mr. Petric, Mr. Reigert and Mr. and Mrs. Edeburn. I wanted to make a difference in the lives of others. I choose to teach.
I knew the moment I met my wife that I was going to marry her. It took me a year to convince her to like me and another year to convince her to go on a date. Robin and I took on strong winds when we moved from being friends to a relationship. The prevailing winds were clear from some of our so called friends that we weren't right for each other. We still are not an eharmoney.com couple. Robin told her friends that children, dogs and old people like me and that I was good to her. I told my so called friends to go to he$*. The prevailing winds would have never put Robin and I together. Our true friends knew that our differences filled each other's gaps. We complete each other.
The hardest decision that I ever made to face into the wind and chart my own direction was to leave my hometown and move 200 miles. I always dreamed about living a life with a large extended family and life long friends. The prevailing wind of staying in Ashtabula and staying close to home was strong. Choosing to move to a growing demographic region would enable me to provide for a family and fulfill my desire teach. Central Ohio schools had a partnership with Ohio State enabling me to earn a masters degree at minimal costs. Going into the wind and moving to Central Ohio was life altering.
I understand that I am blessed with being able to choose to face the wind. Sometimes folks sail in turbulent winds and need to choose a path based on survival. Facing the wind is an opportunity about thriving.
I should have followed some trusted advice that challenged my thinking. There are times that sailing with the prevailing winds was the right choice. However, a life is lived when you face the wind and chart your own course. I am blessed that a greater force pushed me into the wind to marry Robin, to serve as a educator, and live in a community supportive to raising a family. I am still running into the wind.
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