Sailing and life lessons

I have wanted to have a place where I could write and share thoughts with my friends and family for some time. A blog seems a much better alternative to other social media platforms which too often come with a lot of toxic posts that do little to improve our world but instead only add to the stress and negative emotions of our day to day lives. Time is our most precious asset and resource and it makes no sense to me to use our limited time reading or writing angry accusations and hurtful words that do little or nothing for either the reader or author. A better alternative that my own experience has taught me is that words of encouragement that are so easy to share with friends and strangers alike sometimes give strength and hope when it is desperately needed......

I have found that sailing is a great metaphor for life and sailing with Windy Sparrow over these past years has taught me that while it is good to have a plan, it is subject to many forces outside of our control; wind, tides, currents, or the sea’s surface which can be as smooth as glass one day and twenty foot waves the next. Sailing on the ocean is challenging and sometimes dangerous but each day brings a purpose to our lives that, at the end of the day, rewards us in some way. Sometimes a beautiful sunset, sometimes a hard and difficult life lesson, but always something of true value if we look for it.

Following is an excerpt from a story I have been trying to write for many years. It expresses some of the wisdom that life and sailing has taught me.

“Ocean sailing brings both brilliant, glorious sun filled days beam reaching with a steady 15 knot wind as well as terrible gales with 30-40 seas that relentlessly pound both boat and crew without mercy. Life is the same bringing both tears of happiness and joy as well heartbreaking sadness that inevitably come from loss. Both should be embraced as neither can be avoided.” An Old Man’s Voyage

sincerely, windy sparrow and capt -jack...