Everyone’s a Fourth Grader
I had a lot of doubts about starting this blog. For a while, I was thinking that I didn’t know enough about racing sailboats to write about it. There were many lapses in my confidence and repeated instances of questioning my rationale. Then, I listened to the audiobook “The Barefoot Executive.” Honestly, I just happened upon the download as a special from audible.com. I wasn’t sure what I would find, but the title enticed the tropic loving sailor in me – any excuse to go without shoes.
Throughout her book, Carrie Wilkerson illustrates many lessons by telling stories. Overall, the book is about how she changed her life to best care for her kids, gain control of her time and money, and donate more to causes she believes in. I laughed often while listening to the book; and unexpectedly, I heard a story that I have relied on multiple times in the month or so since I heard it.
In that story, she talks about how her kids teach each other. She mentions having a lack of confidence in certain areas – doubting whether she was knowledgeable to teach others as she started her coaching business. But then, she looked at her kids. One was a fourth grader and the other a third grader. She goes through her observations about how the older sibling teaches the younger. There are a lot of things that a fourth grader has yet to learn; but he has learned more than his third grade sibling. Throughout that story, she repeated that everyone can be a fourth grader to someone else’s third grader.
Thinking back on that story has given me a boost of confidence on more than on occasion for a variety of subjects. It also made me remember that I know some things about sailing. I don’t pretend to be the most knowledgeable – and I certainly have A LOT to learn. However, in the time that I’ve been on the water, I have learned some things too.
It is my hope that I will be able to share some of my experiences and things that I’ve learned about racing boats through this blog. I am also hopeful that you will contribute tips, insights, (and corrections if I get something wrong). That way, we can all learn, help each other, and continue to have great experiences out on the water.
Please accept this blog in this spirit with which it is intended. I’d love to hear from you!
