You are the boat
*Since I first wrote this, I’ve discovered that it didn’t just start with the attitude/rudder part. It actually start with my asking God for help from my heart. And that made allllll the difference!*
I started home schooling my son halfway thru the second grade. I knew we would be moving to Brasil in June of 2008. I wanted to make sure that we were prepared to handle the move and more importantly the day to day living outside of our home country. My head was reeling with all of the many lessons I was trying to teach my son, (home-schooling wasn’t nearly as easy or fun as I’d been hoping) and I was overwhelmed, frustrated and freakin’ out just a little!
I was taking my daily walk around the lake with my chocolate lab, Tootsie Roll and I asked God, “How am going to make it thru this?” The next thought to come into my head was “your attitude is like the rudder on a boat. If the rudder is stuck, the boat just goes in circles. It’s the same as with the attitude. If your attitude sucks, then your gonna have a really crappy time.”
I kept on walking and thinking about the metaphor of life and a boat.
I came home from my walk and immediately grabbed a piece of paper and colored pencils and drew a picture of “the boat”.
Later, while we were living here in Brasil, I re-drew the boat, made some modifications and then wrote out into words just what exactly the boat symbolized.
“A picture is worth a thousand words” is the standard I used when putting the writing together. I tried to be clear and concise, but leave room for individual interpretation as well.
Please give it a read, and then leave me a comment and tell me what you think of it.
You are the Boat
The boat is a representation of a person sailing through life. I don’t mean everything perfect, no problems, easy, breezy sailing. I mean progressing from now to later.
The body of the boat has three picture windows within it. Inside these windows you can see that the first says fortify, the second says relax and the third says recover. These windows signify three very important things to remember on your journey.
The first window shows provisions, stuff, supplies and the word fortify. These are all of the things you will need such as healthy food, clean clothes, games, music, art, educational supplies and a first aid kit. Anything and everything you will need in the future needs to be collected and brought on board to equip yourself for the journey ahead. (You may even want to think about adding a charming smile, thick skin and a large reserve of confidence.)
The second window shows chairs and a table with playing cards and beer on top of it. This window says relax and refers to the necessity for joviality and fun. Life is not just about work and ambition. Relaxation with friends and family is fundamental for living a complete and healthy life. The key is to feel rejuvenated and renewed after you are finished. Notice this window is placed within the center of the ship. This refers to the need for balance between work and relaxation.
The third window shows a hammock, blanket and pillow. This window says recover and it means to allow yourself complete rest and recovery. It would be fair to say that some events in life are going to be difficult. You will become stronger by facing these challenges. This recovery is learning and you will become smarter and wiser every time you seek out the opportunity hidden within the challenge.
Projecting from the center of the deck is the mast. Upon this is written the word strength. This represents your strength in everyday life. I am not talking about aggression or forcefulness, but the real strength that comes from holding up to the responsibilities and expectations of yourself. The sail is attached to this and it represents your soul. Your soul carries you through every single day. It wakes you up in the morning and it puts you to sleep at night. The mast supports the sail in the same way that your strength supports your soul.
The ropes attached to the mast and sail represent your self-control. The ropes direct the sail to expand and contract, to control the necessary maneuvers. Without this restraint, the sail would be flapping wildly, unable to harness the energy from the wind. The wind represents luck and the sea represents life.
At the top of the mast is the crows nest and flag. These represent forethought and influence. By looking from the crow’s nest, a sailor is able to look far ahead to help decide which way to go. The flag is one of the first things spotted by other people. This symbol will determine your future with everyone who sees it. If a pirate flag is flown, the fear generated from that impression could poison your prospective relationships. It is very difficult to know how scared people are going to react. Take a moment to think about what kind of an influence you want to have before you raise your flag.
Toward the back of the deck is the Captains Quarters. This symbolizes your mind. A peek in the window shows a map on the wall, a table with a compass, ships log and feather pen. The map refers to where you are going, where you’ve been and where you are now. It could be called your memory. The compass refers to your moral compass. This allows you to know what you should be doing. The ships log and pen refers to your thoughts and beliefs.
On the bottom of the ship is the keel. The keel of the ship is very, very heavy in order to balance the boat within rough seas and keep it upright. This refers to your responsibilities such as doing laundry, washing dishes, paying bills, cleaning the bathroom, reading with your children, asking your spouse about their day and taking the dog to the vet. All of these things help keep you balanced and focused throughout your life. The keel is heavy because it needs to be.
The rudder at the back of the ship represents your attitude. It is important to keep your attitude appropriate to the situation at hand. If your attitude gets stuck, like a rudder jammed to one side, your boat will only turn in circles, unable to move forward. The rudder itself is rarely seen but its influence is universal.
At the front of the boat is the masthead. This big, beautiful lady represents your esteem. As you go out into the world, the way you carry yourself will determine how people respond to you. Simply put, you will get what you give.
Up on the deck, you will see the crew. Honestly, there is no way you are going to be able to live a complete and satisfying life without support. Your crew refers to your friends and family. Treat them well, respect their abilities, and they will do the same with you. Always remember, to speak well of another is a blessing to all.
At the wheel of the ship is the captain. The wheel represents your heart. Your heart effects your attitude and directs you toward your destination.
The captain could be God, Allah, or the Universe. It is your spiritual guide. Whoever that is, is up to you.
There is an island in the distance, in front of the boat. It is called curiosity and refers to the need to look forward to a goal with eagerness and purpose.
Everyday is an opportunity to make our day into what we want it to be. The best life we can get is right in front of us.
Now that we are almost ready to go home, I can say that this boat has really helped us get thru the past year. We are happy, healthy and strong. I couldn’t ask for more than that, but I will.
It is my hope that this idea of the boat will touch other people. What I really want is the concept of it to kindle something important. I want it to save the world by inspiring people to be the change they want to see.
I know that’s a lot to ask. But if I don’t ask, then I won’t get it. I gotta start somewhere.
Tchau for now, P
