Some Day Soon: Every Goal is Yet to Come

"I listen to the wind, to the wind of my soul. Where I'll end up, well.. I think God only knows."- Cat Stevens

Yet. A moment not in view. A circumstance that has not and may not come to fruition. A time we may be heading toward or away from. Being willing to let the wind carry us. The fluid events of existence that steer and shape us. We can not force yet. We do not design it nor build it. We merely set course for it on a calm sea, often turbulent with storm, swirling with energy, waves forever stirring the currents, until upon the shore where ebb and tide continue to push and toss us about with the sand. Never fully setting foot upon solid ground. Yet, is a place we hope to arrive. But we must be mindful that it often changes location.

This does not mean we can never find it. We must be diligent in our directional force. We must have well laid plans, coordinates, alternate routes. We must pack lightly and not focus on the material things but the course we are embarking on. The circumstances that may occur along the way. Seek contingencies in order for us to weather the storm that may lie ahead. Skies will eventually clear up and sunshine will guide the way, but we must stay focused and aligned with our goal. The moment we lose sight of our intention, we begin to take on water, slowly, sinking, slowly losing momentum. We get stuck in place. A heavy burden that often shipwrecks even the most confident captain. But, if we navigate the tsunami or hurricane and skirt the elements we can arrive some day soon. To reach some day soon, a mindful awareness is necessary. We can not ignore the climate that may hinder us, merely embrace it and use it to surf and climb the waves in order to see what lies ahead.

Often, people expect to quickly reach their goals. Or they give up because it is not a clear, calm course to maneuver. As teachers, we need to set up our students not to reach their goals with ease but to fail often and use the tools we give them to traverse these unsteady waters. We need to instill in them a sense of empowerment that they own these goals and that they can change them at anytime. That just because at this moment, they are struggling, success and accomplishment is yet to come. Growth is not the arrival but the skills we use to reach it. Not the canoe or the raft but the paddle. It is not the map or the GPS but the stars we use to navigate, because they light the way, they guide us toward the center, the exact point where we can reach our goal. Instinctual and personal rather than dependent on another. Whether breath-stroke, dog paddle or wading, the swimming must be independent. Yet is personal.

Yet is dependent on our decision making, listening skills, personality, rigor and resilience, pride and determination. It may be a deserted island for some, a crowded beach for others. But it is very much personal, and how we get there is a combination of motivation, over-coming fear, and steering into the wave not trying to circumvent it. Facing the storm head on. Because there is always a storm. It might be a gentle rain or a turbulent gust but it will always break the surface. But if we are armed with buoy's to narrow our path, life-jackets to shield us from harm, and a compass to direct us we can find yet. We can keep going no matter what. We can not only reach yet but be present and conscious of it every moment there after. For another trip is on the horizon.