Life as an Obstacle Course
By Kingsley Bye
Life can be like an obstacle course. All sorts of challenges set up before us and hurdles to overcome. With drinks breaks in-between stages and refreshment stands. On this course we can go it alone or work in a team, having to self-motivate and motivate others along-side us.
Sometimes we need a push and sometimes we need to push others. Parts of the course utilize our talents and skills to the full, while we struggle with other elements where we feel our talents are found wanting. This is when outsourcing is a grand idea: working together synergizes and quadruples results.
Just when we think we have reached the end, we are told or realize that this is just another stage and yet another section lies before us. Some of us will drop out of the course early. Some go stampeding ahead, only to be found sprawled on their backs, panting for air. At some stages we can change our team members and at some levels there are choices about which direction to take. We are given guidelines but there is no conclusive manual or map detailing the layout of the course. We are also not told what the overall goal or final outcome will be. Some question the purpose of the course and some just keep going ahead blindly.
It is important to prepare daily for what lies ahead. Exercize the mind and the body so you can face the challenges. The route can take you through some awe-inspiring scenery so do not solely focus on the task at hand. Enjoy the view while cycling along. Take some time to soak in the sights and stop for a drink. Remember not to always have your eyes set on the outcome and spend enough time with the process to fully appreciate your participation.
The prize? What exactly is the prize? The prize is the course itself and the experiences we have along the way. Like in the reality show "Survivor," all contestants gain from participating and particularly those who play the game to the full. At the end there may be no $1,000,000 handout or trophy to be won; we may or may not get a standing ovation, but we can certainly get the prize - the prize is a life well spent!
