Recently I read a true story  (read the story in the link) about a blind individual who worked on one of the top floors of the World Trade Center.  The building shook, and he reached out for his service dog with the command “ Forward “.  Forward is the first command service dogs learn,  and that was the theme of blind author.  No matter what you are dealing with, even in the heat, and stifling gas fumed stairwells walking, and standing in dozens of stairwells you need to go forward to grow, to survive, to achieve.

So what has that got to do with sharks and skateboarders?

I think I’ve always been told that sharks need to keep swimming to live, something about their gills or lack of lungs. That makes think that there is a parallel for me, and possibly for you.

During our lives for the first decades we are pushed to move forward by our parents, by schools, by our education and careers but at some point those pressures diminish, and stop.

At that point we have a choice, we keep moving forward because we want to keep growing, to keep learning, to keep from being stagnant, all kinds of reasons OR we coast, much like a skateboarder.

Funny thing about skateboarders though, they coast downhill, only.

So that is my question for you dear reader, are you going forward like a shark, learning, and growing, challenging and avoiding brain atrophy; Yes?

The alternative is that you have taken a break, and allowed yourself to coast for awhile like a skateboarder.  That’s cool, it’s nice to coast for awhile.

But healthier I think if we don’t stay coasting indefinitely.

Shark or Skateboarder – swimming or coasting?  Is it time for a change?

When everything seems to be going against you, remember that the airplane takes off against the wind, not with it.” Henry Ford

Thanks for reading!,  I appreciate your comments and suggestions. 🙂