Click here to listen to the audio version

YOUR LIFE SHOULD REVOLVE AROUND HIGH TIDE

By Doug Nielsen

Living in a surfing village in Costa Rica was quite an experience for me.  As I learned the sport, started surfing nearly everyday, and made friends with other surf enthusiasts, I was privileged to enter into the world of a surfer.

If you know a surfer or are one yourself you can appreciate that they are a little “off”.  They have a more relaxed mentality--a unique philosophy of life that most of us in modern western society cannot understand.  

We became good friends with several pro surfers, including Jim Hogan the world champ surfer who has surfed 50-60 foot waves.  He really needs some help.

A surfer’s life revolves around one thing, and one thing only-- the TIDE!  Believe me, nothing gets in the way of high tide because that's when the waves are best for riding.  I must admit that I was never that fanatical, but all of our surfer buddies definitely fit into this category! 

What is HIGH TIDE in your life?  What things are so important to you, that you are willing to schedule the rest of your life around them?  Look over the activities of the past week or so and you will see what HIGH TIDE is in your life.  As you know, the tides of the ocean are very powerful and predictable.  As you look at your life you will see powerful and predictable patterns in your life as a leader, employee, parent, community member, etc. 

Often we say that spending time with family, exercising, eating less, taking a yoga class, reading more are HIGH TIDES in our lives, but when we look at the facts of our life, our choices of what we scheduled for and around may reveal something very different.

I may say that my relationship with my wife is a HIGH TIDE event for me, but my actions clearly show differently when I am sitting in front of the TV and have not yet snuggled her or asked about her day. 

Love is spelled TIME!!!  Love is action, love is a decision, love is sacrifice, love is not a feeling! 

This Month’s Invitation

First: I invite you to write down your top three HIGH TIDES. 

Second: Look at how well you have centered your life and decisions around your HIGH TIDES.  Where you send your time reveals what you truly love! 

Third: Look at the divide between what you say is important and what your actions demonstrate. 

Fourth: Write down a commitment to yourself of how you will genuinely center your life and decisions around your HIGH TIDES.

Remember, my friends, that I am pulling for you to Take Life by the Helm.  Whether you are going through a very difficult time or if the sun is shining on your back, know that you are not alone. 

Until next time take life by the Helm and smooth sailing even in the storms!

Please share this newsletter with others by forwarding it to 3 of your friends.