A New Year and Old Goals

Well, 2021 has arrived and I started it with a splash ... literally. A plunge into the ocean with several others to welcome in the Year of the Ox and to say good-bye to the Year of the Rat.

The Pacific Solo Polar Bear Swim was also, for me only, a cold-water training exercise, during which I tried out a Mustang Survival Jacket given to me by David, a Pacific Solo Patron.

New year holidays often provoke resolutions and goals. For me, this year was different though. As my goals are set and nothing has changed. Namely: to cross the North Pacific, solo, to see my mother and witness the garbage patch along the way.

It's an ambitious goal and it dominates my thoughts. I am often asked what I am going to do afterwards. Do I have another challenge? Well of course I know what some possibilities are, and I have some ideas and even desires, but this challenge is so big that it obscures anything beyond. When the horizon is flat ahead of you, with every increment we move forward we can see a bit further. But when it is a mountain ahead of you cannot see beyond it despite moving forward until you are passed it. Unless of course there is even a bigger mountain beyond.

There is something to be said about BIG goals. I recently received a hard copy of Sorted magazine. The Deputy Editor, a former of editor of one of my books, interviewed me and featured Pacific Solo in the winter edition and hence I received a free copy. I was eager to read it partly because Bear Gryls is a columnist but also, I had heard many good things about this unique men's magazine.

One of the columnists, Peter Horne, particularly caught my attention as he explored what neuroscience reveals about the brain in his article called THINKING BIGGER AND BETTER.

He explained how big goals trigger emotion in the amygdala part of the brain and when that happens and you also engage the front lobe (where planning, attention to detail, and analysis takes place), you are more likely to be successful in achieving your goal.

Based on studies conducted, he stated that goal-setting changes the structure of the brain.

Well for me, I am coming into this year with a clear goal. Yes, it is emotional. Passion, love and fear all mixed together. Because I am a novice sailor and the risks are high, I am spending considerable mental, financial, and relational energy to plan and prepare.

In fact, I only have a few weeks left at the Tokyo Marina as I have given my notice and from Feb 28th, I will be sailing off the coast of Japan, as far as Okinawa, training and preparing for my crossing to Vancouver in late spring and summer. A voyage that will take 2-3 months.