"A ship in harbour is safe but that is not what ships are built for.”
I really like this quote. I was talking to my brother about how many applications this quote has and how we are made for movement, adventure, risk (not a popular word in 2024) and exploration, not the life of comfort we seem to strive for. He said, “yeah, unless whoever said that was the foreman at a shipbuilding yard and his crew needed a pep talk on getting all of the vessel’s safety requirements met”. That’s my brother. The quote is attributed to John A. Shedd, prominent American author and businessman from his 1928 book titled Salt from My Attic, a collection of thoughts and sayings (not a ship-building guide, although the jury’s still out on who said it originally).
I think the quote is a more thoughtful version of, “Just do it”. It’s not rash. It takes the nature of the subject into consideration. One translation: If I am made for movement and I am fearful and don’t move, eventually, I won’t get anywhere or experience anything. I see this with food in my practice. An individual wants to eat healthy food, but has read/heard conflicting ideas. Maybe they are afraid of starting something and not succeeding. Maybe it seems like a lot of work when the outcome is uncertain. I may end up hearing, “I didn’t know what to do, so I didn’t do anything.” Or a version of this. Relatable.
If you are reading this and you are a friend or acquaintance, I’m asking something of you. If you are reading this and you only know me through my blog, I am asking something of you, too. I am asking that you sail out a little ways today and feel the wind in your face. I don’t know what that means for you. Maybe it means eating something you solidly know to be healthy, like greens, then saying to yourself, I can do this one thing from now on. Hey! You’re sailing! Maybe it applies to something entirely different. Whatever it means to you, let your hesitation go and leave the harbor. You were built to do so.
“A guy in his recliner is safe but that is not what guys are made for.”
“A girl in her bedroom with the curtains pulled down is safe but that is not what girls are made for.”
What’s your version? Say it, then sail off!
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