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If you talk to any person that has achieved
his/her goals against all odds, one thing remains the same.
That person never failed to stay focused. The goal was always
in sight, and the anticipation of reaching that goal never
wavered. The person that can see the goal being reached will
achieve that goal and nothing will prevent that from happening.
A story that was shared with me several
years ago is one that I feel worth sharing with you, too. The
author is unknown, but the value of these words will leave a
lasting imprint on all those who grasp hold of its message.
“When she looked ahead, Florence Chadwick
saw nothing but a solid wall of fog. Her body was numb. She
had been swimming for nearly sixteen hours. Already she was the
first woman to swim the English Channel in both directions.
Now, at age 34, her goal was to become the first woman to swim
from Catalina Island to the California coast.
On that Fourth of July morning in 1952, the
sea was like an ice bath and the fog was so dense she could
hardly see her support boats. Sharks cruised toward her lone
figure, only to be driven away by rifle shots. Against the
frigid grip of the sea, she struggled on, hour after hour, while
millions watched on national television.
Alongside Florence in one of the boats, her
mother and her trainer offered encouragement. They told her it
wasn’t much farther. But, all she could see was fog. They
urged her not to quit. She never had…….until then. With only a
half mile to go, she asked to be pulled out.
Still thawing her chilled body several
hours later, she told a reporter, ‘Look, I’m not excusing
myself, but if I could have seen land I might have made it.’ It
was not fatigue or even the cold water that defeated her. It
was the fog. She was unable to see her goal.
Two months later, she tried again. This
time, despite the same dense fog, she swam with her faith intact
and her goal clearly pictured in her mind. She knew that
somewhere behind the fog was land and this time she made it!
Florence Chadwick became the first woman to swim the Catalina
Channel, eclipsing the men’s record by two hours!"
Let this lesson forever be embedded in your
mind. Never take your eyes off of your goal - even when you
can’t see it. Visualize your goal clearly no matter what
obstacle is blocking your view. Always picture your goal in
your mind. Let that be the strength to take you where you want
to go!
Clara Hinton
Professional Speaker, Workshop Leader, Author
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www.silentgrief.com
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