This is an article that i think could benefit all of us.I know i will try to use this concept in my everyday life!!
Simplify
Last year, a friend of mine gave me a sticker with the word
“Simplify” written in bold, white letters. Not knowing what to do
with it, I posted it on my refrigerator. As I reflect back over the last
year, that little sticker has had a profound effect. Simplify became
my mantra for 2006 and has changed my life. Whether it be in your
personal, work or kiteboarding life, “simplifying” each area will
improve your state of mind and ultimately lead to more riding time.
If you are like me, then you overanalyze everything. It is not an
easy task for me to simplify my thinking, especially when it comes
to equipment decisions. I would not consider myself a techie, but I
have spent hours upon hours trying different gear in the search for
that magic kite. Granted, kiteboarding equipment has significantly
improved, but this year was the first time I limited myself to two
kites, one bar and one board. Rather than focus my energy on trying
to find a newer kite or board that might perform slightly better, I
decided to put the time on the water and concentrate on having fun.
It has not only saved me money, but it helped me focus my energy
on the most important
element of kiteboarding:
the riding!
The other day my
friend called me to go
kiteboarding across town.
My backyard in Corpus
Christi is Packery Channel,
a huge, flat-water buttery
slick. Across the street
are miles and miles of
wide open gulf coast.
When I asked him why
he wanted to go drive 40
minutes to a much more
“popular” beach, he told me he liked riding around a bunch of other
kiteboarders to talk about gear and show off his tricks. Yes, I love
hanging out and socializing on the beach, but to leave wind right
out my back door to go hang out at the “cool” beach didn’t sound
like much fun. Needless to say, I declined his offer, drove across
the street and rode the “less popular” spot with one other person.
The hour and a half of driving time I saved was put on the water
riding until sundown. You should never leave wind to find wind.
So here I sit writing my final editorial for 2006 trying to make my
profound point on simplicity. It’s really not that hard of a concept.
However, I am just as guilty as all of you for overcomplicating
even the simplest things. Over the last few years I have watched
my friends and fellow kiteboarders spin themselves in circles over
buying new equipment, choosing a beach to ride at and even
arguing about the shape of a kite. This year I have taken more
criticism than ever for the gear I ride, but I can honestly say I have
had more fun than ever before. My advice to every kiteboarder
in the world is to Simplify! Stop worrying about what kite you fly
and just ride. Focus your energy on the water rather, than getting
caught up in the hype. Whatever option improves your safety and
increases your fun factor is the path you want to take. No one can
argue with the guy who gets the most riding time.
Simplify!
You can only work with what you have, so stop wondering what you 'could' do if you only had certain resources. Has it occurred to you that you've been given exactly what you need? Take a closer look.
(written by ryan riccitelli)aka scrapper.