A movie was recently released that I have been anxiously waiting to see! It is called “The Art of Racing in the Rain” and it is based upon Garth Stein’s novel of the same name. If you did not read the book and are looking for an inspirational read about the meaning of life, run!-don’t walk to your local library or bookstore! I absolutely loved this book and dog-eared so many pages in order to revisit the beautifully written passages at a later time. It is a sweet story about a dog named Enzo (narrated in the movie by none other than Kevin Costner) and his owner Denny who is played in the movie by Milo Ventimiglia of “This Is Us” fame. The book intertwines the life of Enzo the dog with Denny’s life as a husband, father and Formula One race-car driver. You never know when a book will hand you a powerful and helpful life lesson. This book did that for me.
In order to prepare for his competitive races, Denny has the methodical practice of slowly and carefully walking the racetrack before each race. He describes this process as “finding my visuals” and attributed his success as a race car driver to this planning ahead approach. He said it is important to have reference points committed to memory so when his car would be racing at record speeds, he would be able to more easily anticipate every twist, turn and challenge. Although this struck me as an extremely helpful approach to life, I had not shared this idea with my family. Which is why I was recently pleasantly surprised to hear my son describe that he does the very same thing.
Last month, my son worked as a caddy for a women’s professional golf tournament that was held in our area. He has done this for several years and is something he looks forward to because he learns so much from the hard working and extremely talented golfers of the LPGA. Several days before the tournament, my son headed over to the golf course to “walk the course”. When I asked him what he was doing, he said that in order to be an effective caddy to his assigned golfer, it is important for him to be very familiar with the course, its condition, and any notable reference points that would help his player to succeed. I immediately thought of Denny and the racetrack! My son went on to explain that he would be his golfer’s “eyes” for four days and that he needed to 'find his visuals'.
What if we applied this approach to life? Imagine if we took the time to chart out every course? Perhaps you do this already and I applaud you if you do.
Have you ever walked around your fitness center to familiarize yourself with each piece of equipment before you begin your workout?
Do you walk the perimeter of the grocery store in search of the freshest produce and catch of the day before you begin to shop?
Do you take the time to plan your meals for the week before you start foraging your pantry and fridge for food?
Have you ever worked with a trainer who planned out your workouts in advance?
When I began my health coaching business, I spent a lot of time trying to come up with a name for my company. I was trying to find something “catchy” and clever that would be a play on my own name. The answer all along was right in front of me. For as long as I can remember, my husband and I have referred to our family as the “core four”. We have two sons and we wanted them to always know what an important part of our lives they are and the significant role they play in our family. I knew that, as a health coach, I wanted to help people improve all aspects of their lives. That is when I had the “light bulb moment” of naming my business “Core Four” because of my mission to improve the body, mind, soul and home of each of my clients.
I talk a lot with my clients about the many benefits of planning ahead. A briefcase packed with healthy snacks prevents the regular raiding of the office vending machine. Coming up with a list of foods that will support your health goals ensures that you are fueling your body with nutrients and food that serve as medicine rather than processed and pre-packaged junk. Adding your workouts to your schedule makes it harder to press snooze on your alarm clock and choose sleeping-in over exercising. A little time spent planning the important aspects of your life will help you to “find your (own) visuals” and stay on your chartered course.
The benefits to planning ahead are limitless! It can help you execute new projects, reach your goals and fulfill your vision. If you take the time to plan ahead, it will be easier for you to make time to ensure your projects, both personal and professional, actually come to fruition. You will have more control over your life, less stress, and be ready for the seen and unforeseen. You will be in charge of your time and your life. Your productivity will improve and you won’t find yourself in a rut doing the same old thing every day and asking yourself “why can’t I achieve my goals?”
If you decide to read the book and/or see the movie, I hope that Denny and Enzo provide you with the inspiration and encouragement that they gave me. I know you will think about them both every time you decide to walk a course in advance.
What will you be planning ahead for in the coming months? I encourage you to make “planning ahead” a regular part of your life. I cannot come up with words that would be more encouraging than Denny’s own from the book:
“Put your right foot on the gas and ease into the turn.”