lessons from a boat & 4 pattern-interrupting Q's for you
Last summer, we bought a boat for $2,000.
It was a bit of a beater and needed a new carburetor sight unseen.
Ben is a mechanic and I knew if he was cool with the work required, it would be a steal of a deal for us.
We weren't ready to invest in a "real" boat just yet so we went with our version of a starter boat.
It ticked all of the basic boxes and we were excited to have a boat!
But there was one catch...we had fun >>> when it worked.
Our daughter got to go tubing a few times and we went out for family rides on occasion...
But I quickly realized this boat was a reflection of what it feels like when you won't give yourself permission to order what you really want.
You know that feeling when you order the salad but really wanted the burger?
The Dora-Lee was like that.
A few weeks ago, we were out on a boat ride with Anni in the tube and after one quick run - it wouldn't start.
There we were, sitting in the middle of the lake with a 1-year-old in his straight-jacket style life vest , the 9-year-old in the tube and Ben realizing he was going to need to paddle us home...(irony ).
I sat there laughing while I wrangled a fussy toddler and triumphantly declared this was the last official boat ride in the "Dora-Lee."
I didn't know what was next, but I knew it wasn't this!
And this little boat episode quickly revealed something deeper...
Ben and I - with our New England roots >>> accept frugality and tempering the "struggle" as a cultural thing.
Long, hard winters are softened by glorious summers.
Knowing that it's going to hurt to go outside for a majority of the year is just the way it is.
We are a TOUGH crew up here... (I see you NE Crew )
We've recently really taken a look at this and asked ourselves: Why is it so easy for us to accept and EXPECT the struggle?
Followed by: Do we actually like living in this way?
AND >>> Is it required for us to continue living this way?
Conversations like these are essential to sparking possibilities...even if there is no plan on the other side.
Within a week, Ben sold the Dora-Lee to someone who works on boats for a living and
>>> We purchased a NEW BOAT (whose name is still TBD - pls send along any/all ideas!!!). <<<
Since then, we've gone on dozens of boat rides and tubing runs with family and friends without an issue.
Everyone is more relaxed.
The quality of this boat experience changed for the good in a rapid and dramatic way because we made a decision to sync up our vision with our lived experience.
It happens when we are clear and focused.
It happens even faster when we look at our underlying belief systems with curiosity and an excitement to transform.
The vision and its supporting cast of beliefs always sets the course.
Over to you:
+ In what ways am I accepting the struggle?
+ Do I actually like the way things are going? What would I like to change?
+ What is my vision and how can I spend more time focusing on it?
+ BONUS: What have I been unwilling to admit to myself?
Quantum questions for the win!
Take some time to reflect and walk with these questions >>> you might be surprised at what emerges for you.
To your dreams...
xo
Amber