but only metaphorically! It’s the imaginary ship that we created ourselves: its hull, recreational areas, occupants and ultimately its destiny…so why jump over board?
As we emerge from childhood we are encouraged to make our way in life, a scary experience, and we have no experience or clue as how to perform said undertaking. Our friends as clueless as we, our parents relics of a bygone era, a helpful uncle or aunt if we are lucky but otherwise we set sail in our vessel, empty and alone.
All is not forlorn as, along the way, we gather like minded souls, our ships unite, our opinions amalgamate, perhaps per chance, or through work, an ex-girlfriend, a hobby. But as we travel, upon our desolate way, we recruit those who agree with us and reject those who don’t, indeed we inhabit our ship with only like minded souls, feeding off each other, bracing together through new waters.
But what if, at some point they had mutinied, they’d pulled you off course and diverted your destiny? Indeed, they were now in control of your future, steering you where you no longer wished to go? But of course you were oblivious…
It’s that feeling in the back of the mind, that ‘there must be more to life’, that nagging sensation of missing a potential but not having the command to redirect the ship, your ship, your future, your fate. Well, I say to you, jump, jump now!
For, luckily for us, there are a million other ships traversing the waters, half full (or half empty…) and people are jumping, whilst others clamber aboard, a scene of chaos and incertitude, but a thousand hands will help you if you cry out.
Abandon ship I say, and take refuge with others, just because you’ve been on one vessel for ever doesn’t mean that change is not possible.