I Wasn’t Planning to Write This
But curiosity had other plans
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I was reading a book on coaching the other day — Mining for Gold.
It wasn’t about note-taking or creativity or idea stewardship.
But there was this little line about sailing vs. rowing… and it caught me.
Rowing is self-effort.
Blisters-on-your-hands effort.
You doing all the work, paddling like crazy, hoping it leads somewhere meaningful.
Sailing is different.
You lift the sail.
You wait.
You let the wind do what only the wind can do.
That idea gripped me.
And before I knew it, I was off.
I wasn’t planning to write about idea stewardship.
But curiosity — like wind — carried me there.
And I think that’s the whole point.
We try so hard to manufacture meaning sometimes.
To sit down and make something useful.
To row our way into insight.
But the deeper stuff?
The surprisingly connected stuff?
That usually shows up when I’m not trying to get somewhere, but just paying attention.
That’s sailing.
That’s curiosity doing its work.
And I want more of that.
Field Practice
Next time something random catches your attention — even if it has nothing to do with your “plan” — pause.
Write a line or two. Follow it.
It might just be the wind shifting direction.
And it might take you further than your oars ever could.