Throughout this journey we call life, people will show you who they are. Most of the time by their actions but most importantly through their non-actions; or if you give them time and listen carefully, they will tell you who they are.
The question is: Who would you want to travel with? Imagine that you are navigating this journey on a ship. The people that share your life are in this boat with you. Who do you want in this boat with you?
Just like in a cruise ship, people come and go. We are born into a family. We also create a family. Those folks are sharing your life…however, do they necessarily have to be in the boat? Sometimes people that you love hurt you or are no good for you. It hurts even more because they say they love you. Yes, sometimes those close to you prove to be toxic.
A person that says is your friend might be making you feel bad. I recall that when I was in high school, a close friend unjustly accused me of trying to steal the boy she liked. To this day, I still feel upset about it. I remember it clearly because that was one instance in which I saw things very clearly. Because I did see, I did not bother to fight or even defend myself. I decided then and there that I was better off putting distance between us. I simply put her in a lifeboat and let it drift away.
The point is that we must choose carefully who we allow to share the journey with us. You are the captain of your ship.
If you allow the wrong persons to board your boat, you run the risk of mutiny.
Yes, just like that, you could lose command of your ship…and then it follows that you will lose command of your life and ruin your journey.
There will be times that friends or even family must be asked to leave. Those times, I will put him or her in a lifeboat, which I will drag behind the boat…pulling it close once in a while and allowing him or her to come aboard for a little while…then back to the lifeboat!
Emotional arsonists are also dangerous passengers. These are persons that like to incite emotional riots. They like to create discord. They may, under the guise of jokes or constructive criticism, prevent or distract you from enjoying your journey. They may cause division and weaken your crew.
I do realize that I may have been asked to leave someone else’s ship in the past and that’s ok…I wasn’t supposed to be there in the first place! I also feel that there are times when the best thing you can do is just to walk away.
I do know that this boat I’m captaining will and has experienced stormy weather; beautiful sunny calm periods; taken me to interesting ports of call; and people have come and gone leaving something behind. Usually a lesson.
Some are there for a short cruise…others for longer. Some refuse to get off and must be thrown overboard! Haha! Then there are those that are meant to become part of my crew for life. For them I’m forever grateful.
