This is the final post in my 6 part series on goals. If you missed them, click to view Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, and Part 5.
Cape Finisterre is the western most point of Spain, located in the region of Galicia. Also called Cabo Finisterre in Spanish and Cabo Fisterra in Galician, its name comes from the Latin term “finis terrea,” which means “end of the earth.” The Romans named it Finis Terrea because they believed that it was the end of the known world. Today, it’s known to many who conduct the Camino de Santiago as the end of a 30 day pilgrimage that starts in France (a movie starring Martin Sheen called “The Way” popularized the 500 year old pilgrimage in 2010). At the end of the trail, you’ll see the final marker.
(See the photo below. Copyright Sergey Andreevich via www.123rf.com)
It might be the end of the 500 mile (780km) walk, but for most who do the entire Camino de Santiago, it marks the beginning of a new chapter in their lives.
I’m using this several hundred year old pilgrimage as the metaphor for this final post in January on goals. It’s the perfect metaphor really, because at the end of day, we’re all on a pilgrimage. Each of us are on our own quest to find out all sorts of things from our “wants” and “needs” to understanding our “why’s,” “what’s,” and “how’s.” The reason I spent so much time on goals, (This is post number 6!) is because the goals we seek and how we seek them define us. And if you don’t know what you’re seeking in life then one of two things will happen, you’ll either help others achieve their goals, not a bad thing, or you’ll drift through life, rudderless, without a compass heading, just trying to get by.
The other reason I’m ending with Cape Finisterre is it represents a real-life reminder of horizons. The greatest civilization on earth, two millennium ago, thought this rocky outcropping of land was the end of the world. It represented their limit – their horizon. The same, metaphorically applies to us. Our limits are up to us to define. We know what we know, and until we experience pushing past a limit that we perceive to be a pre-existing limit, we will remain caged by it, in much the same way the Romans looked out at the horizon from Cape Finisterre and determined it marked the end of the world as they knew it.
There’s a structure out on the point of Cape Finisterre that’s painted white in several places. My wife showed me this quotation scrawled into it presumably by a pilgrim finishing their “walk.” Here’s the actual picture.
I agree with this in concept, as long as you appreciate two things:
- Dreams only work if you do
- If your dream defies a law of physics, then you best redefine that law or prove a new law of physics correct to support your dream (remember – I still want that Jet Pack!).
The point is exactly what I tell my kids and the audiences I speak to: our only limits are our imagination and determination.
Your dreams and your goals are unique to you and they are UP TO YOU.
After you’ve defined these goals, your next task is achieving them. That’s where I’ll focus in my February through December posts.
Remember, to achieve those goals you must be focused on helping others succeed as well. It’s not as easy as it sounds, because we have these things called egos to deal with! Not to mention the self-doubt we all must tackle, along with convincing those you are trying to help that your intentions are pure. However, we’ll overcome those obstacles, because we are ALL on this pilgrimage together!
So dream with reckless abandon, follow my goal tips and know that this is what life is all about: Living your dreams! And I know what you’re thinking:
“And will you succeed? Yes! You will indeed! 98 and 3/4 percent guaranteed! KID, YOU’LL MOVE MOUNTAINS!”
~ Dr. Seuss Oh the Places You’ll Go
Whether you’re pondering pilgrimages or moving mountains know that both always start the same way: one step at a time!
Onward Pilgrim,
Alden
