Sail On. Soar Above. Be Magnificent
Finding Your Life Philosophy Through Meaningful Symbols
Sail On. Soar Above. Be Magnificent.
The task seemed simple enough: write a one-page paper on your personal and professional philosophy of life. Include your worldview, rationale, life symbol, and mission statement.
"I've got this," I thought.
Or so I believed.
Every draft was returned marked needs improvement. No matter how many revisions I made, I still was not capturing what was expected.
A one-page paper? Are you serious?
Two weeks before the end of the semester, I was still struggling. I had to pass the course to continue in the program. As an aspiring educational leader specializing in Curriculum and Instruction, I found myself asking a difficult question:
How can I aspire to lead others if I cannot clearly articulate my own philosophy of life and mission?
Frustrated and running out of time, I sought help from Dr. Brantley. He graciously spent an entire day helping my friend and me understand the assignment. By the time we left his office and walked back to the dorm through a blistering snowstorm, I had gained far more than an understanding of the task.
I had gained a lesson in leadership.
More importantly, I learned the value of having a life symbol—a physical object whose characteristics reflect the person we aspire to become and the purpose we are called to fulfill.
Some people choose trees, mountains, or animals.
Others choose objects that represent strength, resilience, or service.
That day, two symbols came to represent and sustain my journey over the past twenty-six years, and I suspect they will continue to guide me for the rest of my life:
A ship and an eagle.
One taught me how to endure.
The other taught me how to rise.
Together, they taught me something even more important:
Sail On. Soar Above. Be Magnificent.
Success, for me, has always been a journey rather than a destination.
I am drawn to ships because they are built for voyages, not comfort. They are steady and purposeful. They persevere. They encounter storms, changing winds, and uncertain waters, yet continue moving toward their destination.
A well-built ship, guided by a skilled captain, can survive even the roughest seas.
Over time, the ship taught me an important lesson: I must be intentional about who and what is navigating my life.
Who are my captains?
Who are my crew members?
What influences am I allowing to guide my decisions?
Most importantly, what materials am I using to build myself each day?
The answers to those questions determine whether I drift aimlessly or sail with purpose.
The eagle, on the other hand, represents perspective.
Like ships, eagles encounter storms. The difference is that they rise above them.
They do not spend their energy fighting every wind. They use the wind to elevate them.
They value space, vision, and focus.
They teach accountability, encouraging their eaglets to develop the strength necessary to fly independently.
For centuries, the eagle has symbolized courage, strength, freedom, and perseverance.
For me, it symbolizes the ability to rise above challenges without allowing them to define me.
Why do life symbols matter?
Because they make the intangible tangible.
- Faith.
- Courage.
- Discipline.
- Perseverance.
- Purpose.
When we can see those qualities reflected in something meaningful, we are often reminded to embody them ourselves.
For years, the ship and the eagle have served as sources of encouragement during both triumphs and disappointments.
They inspired my personal mission statement:
To communicate and demonstrate faith, positive thinking, and perseverance despite the odds.
That mission has guided me through seasons of certainty and seasons of doubt, through opportunities I never imagined and challenges I never expected.
When life required endurance, I looked to the ship.
When life required perspective, I looked to the eagle.
When storms appeared on the horizon, the ship reminded me to stay the course.
When obstacles seemed overwhelming, the eagle reminded me to rise above them.
Both have taught me that success is not simply about reaching a destination. It is about who we become along the journey.
The older I get, the more grateful I am for the assignment that once frustrated me so deeply.
What began as a one-page paper became a lifelong compass.
A reminder that purpose matters.
That faith matters.
That perseverance matters.
And that, regardless of the storms we encounter, we always have a choice.
We can quit.
Or we can sail on.
We can focus on limitations.
Or we can soar above.
For me, the choice remains the same.
Sail On. Soar Above. Be Magnificent.
