I have a friend in Florida who has a sailboat. It is a Seaward 32′ retractable keel sailboat- a thing of beauty. Recently, we were talking. He was telling me he was going down to check the work of a guy who was cleaning the bottom of his boat. Periodically he has someone do this so the boat runs better in the water and prevents damage. Periodic/ Preventative maintenance is crucial. For him it is important to know what is below the waterline on his boat. While he can keep the top part shiny, smooth and clean for all to see, the part that’s not seen is just as important, if not more so, to help the boat run smooth, sleek and fast. For the things needed below the waterline he gets help.
I plan to go visit him in the spring. You can bet that we are going out on the boat. I will be honest, I am hoping for him to make it a great trip. I look forward to cutting through the water just as fast as the wind will allow. I can’t wait to feel the wind in my face and hear the sound of the boat as it cuts through the water. I am counting on him to have the boat in the best shape possible to get the most out of our experience.
That got me to thinking about what is a waterline. It is the line on the boat that divides the easily visible parts of the boat from the unseen part of the boat. I started to wonder, what is below my waterline? In many ways we are like that boat. We have parts of ourselves visible above the water, parts of our lives for all to see. And we have parts of our lives below the waterline, not visible to others. What do I have below my waterline that is holding me back and causing me damage in ways I can’t see?
With all the talk on the news about the importance of self-care, this is an important topic. Understanding the need to care for yourself with things above as well as below your life’s waterline is very important.
Just as my friend puts time into his boat and what is below its waterline, so must we. We need to recognize that there are things below our waterlines that we must acknowledge and handle accordingly. Many things we can handle ourselves, and that is good.
However, if there is something that you can’t handle, there is nothing wrong with looking for help. Just as my friend got help with what was below his boat’s waterline, don’t be afraid to seek help for what is below your waterline.
I am not going to dig too deep, except to say that we all have a waterline in our lives. The waterline separates what everyone else sees above the water versus what is below and not seen by others. And sometimes this includes not seen by ourselves. The key point here is that even though we may not readily see what is below it still has a distinct impact on our travels. Our things below our waterlines can and will slow us down and eat at us much the same as a boat.
We need to understand that this is a fact of life- we all have things below our waterline that only we can see. If these things are holding us back in whatever way you define, these things need to be handled. Remember, while you can try to handle them yourself, never be afraid to ask for help. Help is out there, ready for you. All you have to do is ask.
Regardless the size of the issue, there are many resources available to help you. There are resources from work as well as your local community. The most challenging part is to be willing to ask for help. It is there for you, just ask.
Look at it this way, I am counting on my friend to have his boat in good condition. That is very important to the goals of our trip. I guarantee, you have someone counting on you because you are important to them whether you realize this or not.
I hope this has been meaningful to you. If you would like to learn more about my new journey please check me out, https://masonvandyke.com/
As I travel this on-going personal path of reflection, I find it helpful, actually needed, that I talk with and learn from others. I would appreciate and love to hear your thoughts on this topic. Please feel free to e-mail me your thoughts, Mason@masonvandyke.com
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