Time at Sea & Harbor Time

Sometimes I think too much.  Sometimes I feel too much.  I'm at such an interesting place in life.  A place far enough out that I've been tossed around by life just enough to really start appreciating the most important things, yet not far enough to be settled...not that I'm sure I 'd ever want to be.  Settled.  I don't really know what that means, but I'm not sure I will ever like it in it's full sense.  


I am ever so thankful for the anchors of family and friendship in my life.  These anchors make me feel so safe, make me feel confident in the process of setting out on adventure.  How far is too far?  How long leads to permanent?  If I leave, what will ever make me come back?  Love, what will happen with love?  Where do I want to raise my children?  Anchors Lindsey, anchors...with long cords...really long, strong cords.  Through all the unanswered questions and life's stormy seas, the anchors remind me that my life is a ship that was meant to spend time both in and out of the harbor.  Time out at sea, especially the stormy seas, make time in the harbor all the more enjoyable.  


Too much open sea, and we become too rough around the edges.  Nothing but harbor time makes us boring and complacent.  No ship was built for either of these things.  Being the captain of your own ship is the best and worst thing about being on the water.  You get to make the final decisions, you get to follow your heart, it's your call.  You're the one responsible, if all hell breaks loose it's your fault, it's your call.  


We all need time at sea and time docked in the harbor.  We need balance, and I wish there were a handbook or some sort of checklist that tells you how to ensure you're getting it.  But there's not, and even if there were, it would be a false, ludicrous version of some other weirdo's version of happiness.  Because the truth is, we're not all graded against the same rubric.  My checklist is different than your checklist because we all make our own according to our own desires, hopes and dreams.  I'm glad.  


I'm glad there are big, beautiful ships that will take us to amazing places if only we ask and get ourselves on board.  I'm not naive enough to believe there are no stormy seas, that it's all smooth sailing.  I'm not okay with taking up permanent residence in the harbor.  Most of all, I'm thankful for the anchors.  I love the anchors that keep us where we need to be both in and out of the harbor.  Strong and dependable in all seasons and circumstances, those anchors.  I love my anchors.  


"A ship in the harbor is safe, but that's not what ships are built for." -Grant M. Bright   









I'm Lindsey Rae, and I hate it as much as you do that I just made ship and sailing analogies.