The Boat You’re In

There are a lot of things I wish I had been told or found sooner in life. Pick a category and there is something there that I wish I was told. Romance, relationships, finances, business, fitness, survival, how our minds work, take your pick. I’ve had to dig deep through a lot of books, videos, and plain old real world experiences to figure out what I have.

Now, there’s always the part that you don’t really need it until you have to use it. Then again, you’d like to have the knowledge before you need it so you can use it when you need it. Essentially, being prepared.

Preparation comes in many forms, shapes and sizes. Fitness, relationships, communication, personal defense and personal development. Each category should be worked on, daily. Even if it’s for 10 minutes, it’s still forward motion.

Now, today I want to talk about the boat you are in and how this matters in your life. The proverbial boat, could be an actual boat too. We’ll leave the “motion of the ocean” jokes aside for now.

Seriously, the boat you are in matters. The boat could be your chosen life partner, the business you are in, the college you went to or not, the groups you join, the place you live. These choices matter. College, you’re there for 4 years, so make the choice count. Plus, what does it say about you after you graduate? This was something I didn’t necessarily think about when I chose the college I went to, granted, it worked out. What you major in or the line of work you choose also says a lot. While people do switch careers, it is not very often and typically after 5-10 years. So make those choices count.

Where you live. Most of us don’t move all that often. Maybe every 5 years. Maybe sooner. What does where you live say about you? What does the car you drive say about you? These “boats” are the big decisions in our lives. Who we marry, where we work, where we live and what we drive. Those boats can take you safely across the Atlantic in style, or be the proverbial row-boat.

When making these decisions on where to take your life and what you want out of it, make sure to think these through. I know you don’t have a crystal ball, but don’t rush to judgement when it comes to these decisions. Take some time to think it through, but also don’t ignore your gut.

Think about the opportunities around you, what you enjoy, and where you want your life to go. Don’t let other people’s decisions be your own. Choose for yourself the life you want to lead. This is the best decision you can make for your own happiness and quality of life. The rest falls where it may.