Life’s Too Short to Turn It Into a Boat Brawl
LIFE STORIES


Photo by Lux Charters on Unsplash
I had a conversation with a woman who was extremely unhappy about her living situation and passionately expressed her dissatisfaction to anyone who would listen. She felt that other tenants in our building had it much better than her.
Her place was tastefully decorated and fully furnished, including wall to wall fitted wardrobes in the bedroom and plush carpets. The person she was comparing herself to did have a larger place, but didn’t have any of these fancy fittings — just some basic furniture from Ikea. On top of that, they lived in an unfortunate location near a noisy front door. It really amazed me how she saw their living conditions as better.
In the big wide ocean of life we find ourselves sailing alongside others, and it’s intriguing how we often we fixate on the boats around us.
Picture this: you’re peacefully navigating on your little dinghy, when suddenly, you spot someone on a lavish yacht. In an instant, self-doubt creeps in, making you question every life choice that led you to your humble dinghy. The reality? You have no clue about their unique journey or endgame.
Why in the world are we so fixated on comparing our boats to others when we’re not even sailing towards the same sunset?
Life isn’t a high-stakes yacht race with champagne celebrations at the finish line. While we all share the same vast ocean of existence, the boats we sail on are distinct. Rather than engaging in the futile exercise of comparison, why not take a moment to appreciate the unique features of your own boat?Perhaps your dinghy hides a secret karaoke machine or other surprises that make your journey special.
So, if life isn’t a boat race, what is it? Maybe it’s more like a nautical parade, where each boat shows off its own special decorations and quirks. After all, who wants to be stuck in a monotonous race when you can have a lively floating party?
Let’s put an end to the chaotic regatta of comparison and competition. Embrace the individuality of your boat, celebrate the diversity of the flotilla around you, and sail into the sunset with a genuine smile.
Life’s too short to turn it into a boat brawl. We’re all on this watery adventure together, just on different boats. So, instead of focusing on the comparison, let’s revel in the waves and appreciate the unique beauty of our individual journeys.