Life is funny, don’t you think? We plan and plan and plan with hopes of everything going exactly as we’d like it. But, we all know it doesn’t work that way. It feels like things are turned upside down or shaken up, and then all of a sudden, without you even noticing it, things turn out better than you could’ve ever imagined them to be. It always turns out okay, and most of the time, it turns out better.
I’ve felt this way since I met Steve. I’ve felt this way living on our boat. I’ve felt this way with most of the huge things I’ve experienced in this life. You can’t run from the ever changing world and the jokesters we call fate. So, you accept it. You stand there, arms on your hips in a true power pose, with a smile on your face because you know that it will all work out. You become at peace in the chaos.
I have to remind myself of this when I start to feel a little down about things. Maybe I feel strange from being on the path less traveled when it comes to societal pressures in the workplace or the world in general, or maybe I just feel like I’m not making a difference. When I’m feeling this way, I always have to take a step back and remember who the hell I am. Because, truthfully, life is nothing if it is not our own. And this life, the one I am living now, is mine. I’ve not fallen into the small town pressures of graduating, finding a career I’ll be in forever, getting married, having kids, etc. I’ve forged my own path, one that suits me and one that brings me joy. The thing is, nothing is wrong with those who follow the path previously mentioned, but it’s not for everyone, and definitely not for me.
I’ve graduated, I’ve worked many jobs, I’ve found a partner that I love more than he knows, and I’m happy – that’s what matters most. I’m not exactly sure what I want you to take away from this, so maybe just try to find something good that makes you feel alive. I feel like I’ve written that every week, but it’s been on my heart lately. If you don’t feel that fire, what is it that you’re doing? It can be a book or a person or an activity. It can be one thing, two things, or a million things. It can be anything. Just promise me once you find out what makes you feel that fire, what makes you feel alive, you won’t lose it.
Luckily, I’ve found a guy, a life, and sailing that make me feel that fire. Writing does this, dancing does this, there are so many things. Right now, it’s become a goal to find as many things as I can that make me feel that fire so I can keep it burning for a very long time. As the quote says, “Be fearless in the pursuit of what sets your soul on fire.”
THIS WEEK:
We traveled to NC this week to set up and throw a baby shower at my parents’ house for my brother and sister-in-law. It was beautiful and full of hugs with people I haven’t seen in ages. We had a second get together the next day with family and my cousin and his wife who are also expecting. There really is nothing like spending time with family and watching people you grew up with become parents!
We began another project on the boat (surprise, surprise). We took the permanent windows out of the port and starboard sides of the boat in hopes to fix the leaking we found the weekend before last. I picked the new windows back up today, so we’re hoping to install those with 4000 sealant this week.
Steve is planning on doing a lot of electrical work once we get the windows in so that we can have a new handheld radio! He loves that kind of stuff, so I think he’s looking forward to it (even if it is a big job).
We’re hoping to add two new stanchions, replace our lifelines, replace some rigging for the boom and raise it, and many other small projects. There is never an end to our to-do list, but that’s life aboard Batland!
We’re hoping to sail this weekend up to Mobjack Bay and also to the Concrete Ships, so stay tuned to see if weather pans out and we actually make it out!
Cheers,
Skye
Mentally Sailing 