paddle boarding

by

Push Past Your Goals For A More Fulfilling Experience

I have noticed that I often push past my goal or target. I don’t think this is just a “me” thing, but most likely something that many people do. 

push past your goals for a more fulfilling experience

No, I don’t have any research to back up my theory, but I figure I’m a pretty average person. I think it’s something built right into us. 

You see it in the Olympics where some athletes will post a personal best in their event. There is something inside them that makes them go past what they have done or can do.

… But that’s an elite athlete and most of us don’t fall into that category. 

Still, when I go mountain biking at my club, there are many times that I feel tired and only plan on doing the home loop which is about 10 km.

However, almost every time, once I’m out there biking, I will push past my goal and add about 15 minutes to my ride by taking a side trail halfway through the home loop.

Even when I’m a little short on time, I usually push past my original goal and add the extra 3 or 4 kilometres to my ride.

I do this in many areas of my life. 

… Like when I feel I’ve been adding too much sugar to my diet, I will take a break from pop and chips and candy. 

I will arbitrarily set a time frame for myself of maybe a couple of weeks. But as I near the end of my sugar fast I will usually determine to push past my target date and go another few days or weeks.

There is something in us that pushes us on to do more, to go beyond. We want to break what we had hoped for and go past it. 

I did that again just the other day. 

I decided to exercise using my stand up paddle board. Usually I just paddle for a while following the coast line and then return to the beach. As I launched my board, I decided to go for at least a half hour. I picked out a landmark down the beach and started paddling. 

The water was really calm for Lake Huron. I could tell I was reaching my target sooner than I expected. So I looked farther down the beach and picked out another target – much more ambitious. 

But as I got to it, I wondered if I could go to an even further target – a pavilion that was farther away than I have ever paddled. 

And as that pavilion got closer, I thought maybe I could make it all the way to the point at the end of the beach.

I pushed past three targets I had set and came to shore only to turn around and paddle back. 

It took me just over an hour round trip and I paddled about 6.5 kilometres. 

I felt a little tired by the time I got back to my beach chair, but pretty good about what I had done.

There was just something in me that caused me to push past my targets.

Here’s the thing: Many times when I get up late or I’m feeling a little rushed in the morning, I’m tempted to skip my time with God. Instead of doing that, I will set a shorter time and keep my appointment with Him. I find that, almost every time, I push past my set time and spend much longer with God. Keep your appointment with the Lord. Set your goal and then see how you push past it to have a rich, fulfilling meeting with Him.

That’s Life!

Paul

Question: In what area have you recently gone beyond your initial goal or target? Leave your comment or questions below. 

Subscribe to my blog and receive posts like this one to your email inbox.

by

A Taste Of Something Good Is Never Enough

We’ve all experienced a taste of something and then wanted more.

a taste of something good is never enough

Sometimes you can get more, but there are times when you are left with only a taste. 

That’s frustrating.

Recently when I was at a wedding reception, the waiters brought around appetizer finger foods while we waited for the bride and groom to show up.

I got to try one item that was offered me and it was very good. But as quickly as the waiter brought the little morsel, she disappeared with her tray and those bites of whatever they were. 

To be fair, it was getting near dinner time and I was a little peckish. A one-bite of anything was not going to cut it for me. But I sure liked those little, crispy, rolled things dipped in a sweet, tangy sauce.

Shortly after my taste buds had been perked, I spied another waiter with a tray. I moseyed over, but she had some asparagus thing wrapped in a seaweed-like twine.  

I passed on that one and kept looking for that one waiter who had the food that I wanted more of. 

Have you been there? You got a taste of something but really wanted more? 

A little over a month ago I got an inflatable stand up paddle board for my birthday. About a month later, after some anticipation, I finally got my paddle board up to our cottage. I inflated it and was excited to take it down to the beach and get it into the water.

That first try was great. I got tossed off the board multiple times – some spectacular wipeouts – and it was probably a little too wavy to try for the first time, but I didn’t care; I was having fun. 

We all gave it a shot, I tried it, my daughter, Karlie, and her husband and Lily all gave it a go. We had a wonderful afternoon on the water. 

I would have gone back the next day, but I had gotten a little too much sun so I needed to press pause for a day or two. In the mean time, I had to figure out where I would store this giant surf board that is fifteen feet long. 

I bought some hooks and mounted them on the side of our deck. I had no sooner placed the board on the hooks and turned around to get something when I heard a loud balloon-like pop. … Well, it wasn’t a balloon; it was my paddle board! 

One month waiting to use it, one day of using it and I was left with a taste of something that I wanted more of. 

Now I couldn’t have more. 

Replacing it meant hours of driving and more waiting, but we finally got a new one. 

I sure hope I don’t get just another taste, but instead get the full experience. 

Here’s the thing: There are times when we truly experience God’s love. We feel it, sense it, can even describe it. But then the hardships of life come and we wonder where God’s love is. We want to feel more of it, not just a taste of it. God is not far off. He is with you no matter what hardship you are experiencing. Keep seeking Him and giving yourself to Him and you will find what you are looking for – more of God’s love.

That’s Life!

Paul

Question: What are you hoping for more of? Leave your comments and questions below. 

Subscribe to my blog and receive posts like this one to your email twice weekly.