Reaching for a Star?

Posted on January 25, 2019 by mitchteemley

“Without ambition one starts nothing. Without work one finishes nothing. The prize will not be sent to you. You have to win it.”

~Ralph Waldo Emerson

reaching-for-star-768x1024Here’s a little late January guilt (you’re welcome): If you’re like me, you started 2019 with wonderful plans and are now wrestling with “Rubber, meet Road.” For many, the hard part is simply getting started. Having a perfect plan is praiseworthy, but getting started is everything. The finest blueprints are still just lines on paper until the building is constructed (no one can live in a blueprint). To put it another way: you can’t steer a parked car, but a car in motion–well, OK, course corrections are necessary even when you’re moving. In fact, pilots consider course corrections a part of the plan, not interruptions; they call this “vector,” the cone-shaped general direction that gradually narrows as they move closer to their destination. Sailors call it “tacking,” the zig-zag pattern that eventually gets them to the right port of call. But more importantly, both know that at some point they have to make a start, and then keep going. Stars are lovely, but have you noticed?

They never come to us.

About mitchteemley

Writer, Filmmaker, Humorist, Thinker-about-stuffer
This entry was posted in Culture, Humor, Quips and Quotes and tagged , , , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

17 Responses to Reaching for a Star?

  1. Andrew Reynolds says:
    January 25, 2019 at 12:20 pm

    It should also be noted that “tacking” on a ship with sails enables you to move against the wind so even if the wind isn’t in your favor – you can still get there and the stars are just a lovely.

    Liked by 3 people

    Reply
  2. Lucia says:
    January 25, 2019 at 1:37 pm

    Well put. let’s hope that this year we will reach the stars or at least get much closer.
    All we need is to start.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
  3. In My Cluttered Attic says:
    January 25, 2019 at 3:17 pm

    Great words of motivation to help folks along in their quest to meet personal challenges in 2019, Mitch. It’s like that saying which goes: A body in motion stays in motion. Your words and those of, Ralph Waldo Emerson, will really encourage a lot of people.

    Liked by 3 people

    Reply
  4. The Reluctant Bride says:
    January 25, 2019 at 9:24 pm

    So true! An object in motion stays in motion.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  5. My Way Home Life says:
    January 26, 2019 at 7:30 am

    Yes, it’s all about laboring through, day after day!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  6. Christopher Lindsay says:
    January 26, 2019 at 11:13 am

    Great post, and great quote.

    Hard work, day by day, produces results. It took me 18 months, but I wrote 22 Roger Tuckerman letters, and am finally publishing another eBook.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  7. brilliantviewpoint says:
    January 26, 2019 at 11:32 am

    Great visual for motivation… it’s ONLY January, eleven more months to go we’ve GOT THIS!!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  8. BibleBloggerGirl says:
    January 26, 2019 at 6:40 pm

    What a crystal clear comparison! Good point.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
  9. Sweetu Rocks says:
    January 26, 2019 at 11:18 pm

    Waw🙋 amazing blog

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

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