Last week my husband and I went to Fort Myers, Florida to do a Fast Track to Live Aboard Cruising Certification course. It was thrilling, fun and challenging all at the same time. The first two days were a review of basic sailing on a 26-foot high performance boat. We woke the first morning to white caps on the water—it proved to be a quick review and a wild ride. We passed the written exam and advanced to the next phase.
On the third day, we went aboard a 43-foot boat that took me right to the edge of my comfort zone. We spent the week on the boat with a competent, supportive instructor giving us lessons in sailing, parts of the boat, right of way rules, navigation, man overboard drills, mooring, docking and anchoring, knot tying and more.
By Thursday, my head was so full, I went to bed at 7:00pm, just to give it a rest. On Friday, we took the boat out by ourselves for 24 hours. It was truly a great experience and we are now certified to charter a boat, and to captain our own boat, part of phase two of our life dream. As far as living aboard, the simplicity of that lifestyle is very attractive and would require many adjustments, so the jury is still out on that part.
We were surprised by the wildlife of dolphins loping all our boat, Egrets, Osprey, Herons and Pelicans soaring by. The sunsets over the gulf were magnificent. It reminded me of the beauty all around us just waiting to be observed and appreciated.
We have planned this phase one of our dream for several years now and life kept getting in the way. That is what happens to us—things seem to conspire against fulfilling our deeper desires. But with perseverance, we can have those things that bring us joy and satisfaction as part of our life experience.
What is the dream of your life? Are you able to break it down into phases, the beginning of which you can start to bring into your life? We are about to start a new year. Remember January 2011? I do, like it was yesterday.
Don’t put off your heart’s desire. Make a plan for the New Year to spend more of your time having the experiences that bring you great satisfaction and joy, and come up with a plan that will take your life in the direction of your dreams. Life is to be lived to it’s fullest in this brief time we have here. Now is the year to make it happen.
Wishing you a year filled with your heart’s desire. Happy New Year!
congratulations on taking the steps to manifest your dreams of sailing the high seas!!
it is so true that anything we can envision can become our reality. When I went to India a few years ago, I knew that the next time I visited a third world country, I would be workng
or living there in some capacity…, not so much the tourist experience, but I did not know what that would look like, Through a series of unexpected interactions, my husband and i wil be leaving for Honduras in February to work with IHS (International health Services) to facilitate health care to the impoverished people of this beautiful Central American country. I am thrilled to be able to take in whatever this adventure has to offer, to be of service, and to share it with my most beloved.
Lela Damico
Congratulations, Lela! That sounds like an amazing opportunity. I can’t wait to hear the details while a get one of your soothingly exquisite massages!