Catch the Trade Winds

The "quote of the day" in my 7 Habits Franklin Planner is the same quote I use on my Vox:

Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn't do. So...sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sail.

Explore. Dream. Discover.

As all quotes-of-the-day worth their salt should, it got me to thinking.

Why don't more people sail away from the safe harbor? Why do they stay "stuck in the ruts?" Why don't people venture outside their comfort zone (besides that obvious fact that it's "comfortable" there)?

Whether it's financial (why don't you start a business on the side? why don't you learn to say no so you can get out of debt?), family (what's stopping you from forgiving your sibling? your parents? your kids?), social (half the world is waiting for the other half to say hello!), or spiritual, the law of momentum (also known as the Principle of Inertia) is tough to overcome.

But I think for many people their "comfort zone" is only comfortable because they've convinced themselves that either a) it's the best they can do, or b) it's not so bad anyway, look at that guy's life. But this kind of thinking is TOXIC.

I have a work acquaintance who is embarking on a non-stop hike of the Appalachian Trail. As I understand it, his father is suffering from a debilitating form of arthirtis and Brian is starting to notice some of the same symptoms. So, instead of settling for the life he's been dealt, he's taking a year off to live his dreams while he can.

I applaud him for making the decision to catch the trade winds. I implore everyone else to do the same!