A Pearl in the Storm
I heard Tori Murden McClure interviewed on NPR about her experiences as the first woman to successfully row across the Atlantic. Amazing. She didn’t talk about the technical fete; her stories reflect the internal battles we all fight as humans.
In particular, I loved when she talked about the time she capsized and spent what seemed like a lifetime upside down, in the darkness of the ocean, not knowing if she would survive. Eventually, the boat righted itself, as it usually does. She gasped, pulling in a dose of the beautiful life she is still living.
How many times do you feel your boat capsizing? Can you trust that it will right itself as you struggle in the darkness? When do you know if you should give up the ship or hold on?
As high-achieving women, we love taking risks. Yet we hate what is unpredictable and unknown. How can you learn to live comfortably in the mystery instead of trying to know all the answers right now?
I look forward to reading Tori’s book, A Pearl in the Storm. I am sure it is a great adventure book. I am even more sure I will be enlightened by living out the personal side of her adventure as it relates to my own.
Well, Marcia, you hit the nail on the head with your comment about hating the unpredictable and unknown! Are we control freaks or what?!
I started a new business a few years ago (in addition to the ten thousand other things I do) but for various reasons something kept me from developing it, despite the initial time and financial investments. I pondered, I analysed, but couldn’t figure out what was holding me back. I like the allusion to the boat, except in my case, I had willingly capsized, and was underwater for close to two years! Despite the well-meant advice of others to give up and let the boat sink, I stubbornly clung on to it (I must have had a big oxygen tank). A little voice told me things would work out.
Just a month ago something came up that looks like it’ll be the solution to my years of treading water (upside down), and I am indeed greatly relieved. Nevertheless I spent a lot of time and energy demanding the answer to come NOW, which of course it didn’t, and missed out on the opportunity to enjoy the unknown, instead beating myself up for not having immediate answers to the problem at my (waterlogged) fingertips.
And then after we get through the storm, we finally know why we had to wait and learn those lessons. If we could only see our hindsight right now! Good luck with your new path. I wish you long overdue success.