Focus on the Target

I was watching my grandson play soccer this past week-end. Cute little tykes in their mini shin guards and massive energy levels.
We'd giggle at the goalie staring at the sky, waving to a friend, and rarely noticing the approaching ball until it was too late. Surprising even then, were the number of times a save was made. Never really anything the goalie did, but the kicker would hammer the ball straight into their legs, arms, face. You see, at this learning stage, the kids are focused on getting the ball past the goalie, but not into the net. By focusing on the obstacle, they set themselves up for success, except in this case, they succeed in hitting the goalie, not making the goal.
Later on I began to think about this in our own lives. We see an obstacle in our life and focus on it The result is the same as this youth soccer game, we hit the obstacle, and never the goal.
Focus instead on where you want to be in life, not on what's stopping you.

It pays to be cheap!

My wife and kids may not always agree, and someday I may open the door to find a huge metal chicken staring at me. (of course there's a back story to that statement.) However, on some occasions it saves me from doing really crazy things. For instance, this week we all went to the fair and had a great time. I was almost tempted to ride this giant sling shot thingy that springs you up about 100 feet and lets you free fall back. What stopped me was that it would cost $40 to let them scare the crap out of me. See, being cheap can help.

Not that I was absent in doing anything crazy. There was a ride called "Apollo" that I had to try. In some variations this thing is called "The Hammer", this one could handle a small crowd as it hurles you in a vertical centrifuge. Or more like that old trick with a bucket of water where you spin in up over your head and not spill a drop. Except when you do, because you paused at the top.
If that description is not enough, then check out the video someone else made and posted.
See, I'm a crazy cheap dad.