Thanks for visiting me @ Life and Random Thinking.
This is Post #2 in my challenge to complete eight by September 1st. I hope you will enjoy it, and your comments will propel me to my post.
What is the Four Letter word that leads to Success ?
Last week my son and I rode our bikes to the Little tunnel – that’s my thumb in the left margin. LOL
In order to get to the tunnel, we ride from the south end of Penticton, to the north end, and then continue on the retired Kettle Valley Railway (KVR) trail another 18 kilometres to the north.
It’s 99% railway grade which I think is 2% but still it’s a couple hours each way. We didn’t rush our ride and stopped to drink water and just soak up the experience along the way.
The view to the west is spectacular, and despite the low grade – you climb a long way up as the kilometres gradually get ground away.
You can see there is no fence and the panorama makes me slightly nervous, heart beats a little bit faster, but that is exhilarating also.
The ride was spectacular despite the rain we had that day. We got caught in a misty rain and sheltered inside the tunnel for ten minutes or so. Even wet my smile never left my face.
We had a goal (that’s the word!) and we were there! The ride was only half over, my butt was a little sore and it would be a little more sore by the time I got home, but it didn’t really matter.
Goal is spelled with four letters but GOALS are a wonderful thing to have!
I think there are times I have shied away from setting goals because I was afraid of missing them, or that I would have then to have a plan, a timetable and make a firm commitment if I made a real goal.
Now I realize that having a goal helps me succeed. People generally arrive where they plan to go. I wouldn’t take a holiday without a destination – and I generally always do arrive because I research, plan and execute!
Along with the destination, having a goal gave me the achievement factor! I reached my goal!
Perhaps
that is the missing factor for us, a goal.
When we start something new, it is exciting, new but that diminishes with familiarity, Perhaps that is when we can lose the excitement we began with – but we can reignite that by setting a goal!
The goal, and each step, no matter how small renews the buzz, the elation of achievement that is necessary to spark effort.
As a youth,
I used to practice swimming from one end of the pool to the other, but under water. It was stressful always, and I would be gasping when I touched the other end of the 25 metres but I also pleased that I didn’t give up.
When I was halfway there I usually felt like giving up but by then I could see the wall, my goal, so I would press on (my heart pounding, trying to stay calm) until I made it (barely!).
Goals makes life rewarding,
Goals removes boredom, bring excitement
Goals create meaning and motivation,
Thank you sincerely for reading and your encouraging comments.
My goals for this post are to write posts that readers will enjoy, and to learn from the experience; I am, thanks to the experience I have had meeting readers via the comments.
♥ David
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“You are never too old to set a new goal or to dream a new dream.” – C.S. Lewis
Life and Random Thinking 
Congratulations on reaching your biking goal–what a ride! I love the C.S. Lewis quote. It’s so easy for older people to give up as life gets harder (and it does as our bodies wear out), but I still try to set goals for walking, studying, blogging, reading, etc. When things interrupt my achieving my goals, I just try to be thankful that each day I get to start over.
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Thank you for your comment. I like C.S. Lewis and I need goals and reminders at my age. I don’t trash myself if I don’t achieve them, but get back on my bike, sometimes literally as you know. ♥
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a metaphor for a goal could be a donkey and a carrot. The carrot hanging out front inspires the donkey to move forward.
The same for a person, by having a goal in front of you It entices you forward.
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Thanks for the metaphor Wayne. It made me smile absolutely. It also helps us to stay focused. Have a wonderful day my friend. – David
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Awesome
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Thanks LA. I do enjoy your posts as you know, and look forward to your book lists also. – David
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💗
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Hi David,
You achieved your goal with this post. You are one step closer to your goal of 8 posts and I, the reader, enjoyed your post.
I believe in setting goals. It is such a wonderful feeling to achieve a goal. But I also believe in being kind to ourselves and being okay with take breaks from goals (that is my lazy side speaking)
Gorgeous pictures! You live in such a wonderful location.
Blessings!
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Blessings to you! Yes I am fortunate, and I like that you are kind to yourself. I believe that sometimes we can be our own worst critics. – Have a wonderful day, hope it has lemonade and watermelon! – David
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Thank you David! Prosecco and watermelon!! 😉
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Great photos. And goals are her favourite thing in my life.
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Thank you Chris – now I am sure that you have stories after I read that. I am grateful you commented and read my post. I will visit your blog! – David
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What a beautiful ride, David! And I love your message about goals – you are so right, they keep us riding!
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Thank you Wynne – night rides are fun this time of year and my daughter gave me a vest that lights up really well.
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You are so right about goals, Dave. They’re crucial to everyone at all ages. What a wonderful bike ride that looks like, and thanks for sharing the photos.
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I am glad you enjoyed the photos. Perhaps sometime you will have an opportunity to visit the little tunnel, you can walk to them from a parking lot in Naramata and it’s a very worthwhile 5km walk each way. – Thank you for following my blog! – David
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Sounds great, thanks Dave!
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I’m a big believer in goal setting.
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Thank you Darlene. I wonder what other points you would suggested? – I appreciate you commenting and following my blog. – David
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These pictures are incredible! And I love the post on goals. You’re right – we have to have things we’re aiming for to keep that momentum going! Enjoyed this!
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Thanks. I am glad you enjoyed it. Another way to think of a goal is to think of it as a destination I thought. ♥
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