The Watershed

Our Pastor shared a great story on Sunday that drove home a point and also forced me to think about how the "watershed" can affect our lives as athletes and coaches.  He explained that at the continental divide, water sheds one of two directions and either ends up in the Atlantic Ocean or the Pacific Ocean.  A simple understanding with big time implications for our decisions.

It's similar to the principle of the path: your destination is determined by your path.

I reiterated Pastor's analogy with some athletes later that day as they were beginning a version of preseason training (strength/conditioning and open mat practices).  I encouraged them to make their first day a "watershed moment," understanding that they're going in one of two directions.  In our case, it's either towards our goals or away from them.  The journey and process might not be predetermined, but the final destination is.  The water might meander a bit or get dammed up somewhere or even fall off a cliff in a waterfall.  But the ultimate destination is assured by one means or another.

What goals do you have as an athlete?  As an individual?  Are the decisions your making moving you towards those goals or away from them?  

It's really incredible that we would actually be sincere about making goals, but still choose to go in a direction that moves us further from that destination, isn't it?  Yet, it's so common.  Pursuing your goals and chasing your dreams requires daily active participation.  You must be intentional about what you're doing day in and day out.  Everyday is a watershed moment.

I've been to the "watershed" at Berthoud Pass just West of Denver.  In fact, it was the only route to Fraser, CO where one of my best friends resided.  The Continental Divide is fascinating.  Berthoud Pass is over 11,000 feet above sea level and full of switchbacks on both sides of the pass.  Using that route is always at the mercy of Mother Nature.  I remember feeling very small standing next to the sign that identified the geographical marking of the Continental Divide.  The snow that sat there was about to go in one of two directions in a moments notice (well, when it actually melted).

The watershed starts at one location and travels thousands of miles to the final destination.  Applying that to our goals, it's crystal clear that we MUST start in the right direction.  We must head towards our hopes and dreams otherwise we just won't get to where we want to go.

If you're daring enough to set some big goals, it's important that you make the correct first steps in the direction towards them.  The first step is the watershed moment.  Once you create the momentum, trust the process...but keep moving because tomorrow will surely bring to you another watershed moment and you must chose which side of the divide you're going to go.