Over the last few weeks I have been quite fortunate to spend sometime with people who are enthusiastic about what they do. In life I have found over my years spent in the office of how easy it is to get trapped in a box. When in this box it is so easy to get annoyed and wound up by the circumstances in which it holds yoou. When in the box if the sides are so high that you can’t see out of, it is easy to just decide not to try and to put up with circumstances that we find ourselves in. In the box time can move past it and before we know it, we are too far removed from our old innovative and enthusiastic selves to attempt to hatch an escape plan.
In life I haven’t come across too many people who are enthusiastic about what they do. With both of my hosts in the US I have found two people who don’t hate Mondays. Two people who I think aren’t on the treadmill of excitement waiting for the Friday safety valve to blow off some steam. Having spent time with both of them has given me a chance to sit back and just enjoy listening to people with enthusiasm.
Setting the enthusiasm aside for a minute or two. My time this side of the pond has made me think about what my dreams are for the future and also getting to begin to fulfill a dream of the past.
One of my dreams since I spent a summer in Maryland attempting to coach rugby, has been to learn how to sail. When walking in Boston down the Charles with one of my hosts we came across, at his suggestion, Community Boating Boston. This is truly a fantastic place you can sail on a boat for a year for $240 dollars, including boats and classes, (even less for a trial month). It was apparently started by a bloke who wanted to keep the local kids out of trouble. He paid for a carpenter during the winter to build boats with the kids and then they stole some bedsheets from home in the summer and they were taught how to sail.
The trick I have found is to leave your name in at the dock at 5pm and one of the older members takes you out and try’s to teach you how to sail. This evening was just me and an old sea dog on a small boat for an hour. I am sure he was traumatised.
At the start of the week I managed to spend a few days with in DC with a friend from that summer in Maryland. During this time I also was able to think about what my plans are for the next few years. Having spent a day walking round Arlington Cemetery certainly makes you think. It gives you time to wonder about what these people had dreamed of, what had been their goals and did war and circumstance cut them short. On looking at JFK’s grave I thought two things, firstly how did he get such a big plot and secondly how the American people still hold that family in high regard.
On another walk around DC I took the time to take in the sights and also to spend some time thinking. As I headed up the Abe Lincoln steps and looked out it got me thinking. What is my dream and what excuses we all have for not going for them. Sometimes people manage to get there and sometimes people are the driving force to others fulfilling their dream.
Whats yours?
Posted by theofficeinthestoreroom 
Posted by theofficeinthestoreroom 