Photo by Roberto H on Unsplash

Wanting A Perfect Life Might Be 5% Off

The phrase “on an even keel” to me, means perfect balance. The little boat that is your life floating nicely, water line even on both sides — calm waters, sun shining.

Then I found this:

“…in fact a fore and aft draught which reads the same is the last thing any sailor wants. A ship which floats on a perfectly even keel can be almost impossible to steer.” — ‘Salty Dog Talk: The Nautical Origins of Everyday Expressions’ Bill Beavis & Richard G. McCloskey

Isn’t it brilliant when your perception flips?

One tiny bit of seamanship has moved the needle in a way that a hundred self-help articles couldn’t.

We all say things like this to ourselves:

“I’m struggling” / “Why can’t things be easy?”

Total calm is undesirable. You can’t sail without wind. It’s almost impossible to steer on an even keel.