Unmoored: What To Do if Life Goes Adrift
I'm not a huge interpreter of dreams, but last night's was a doozy. My home was about to fall into a sinkhole. ( What ?!?! )
So I had to climb onto the roof, leaving behind all I had worked so hard to create. Carefully chosen wallpaper, brownies baking in the oven - all abandoned; I climbed up, nearer to the sky (with a friend, identity unknown) as the house drifted into the water (I guess I had scored a waterfront property in this dream, wahoo) - destination entirely unknown. No map. Just safety from disaster, and no choice but to trust that we would land somewhere. Somehow. And eventually we did land - on an island where my family was among others waiting to share this new experience.
I know where this dream came from. Life is like that now for me - unmoored. Maybe for you too. My business has changed. More people getting into voice-overs and narration - suddenly everyone and their grandmas have created in-home audio and video studios, (and so my cool set-up isn't the novelty it used to be).and they are lowering price points.
Live speaker gigs with actual people have disappeared for now - or morphed into virtual presentations. Even audiobook narration (my constant staple in 2020) slowed down for awhile - so I 've had more unscheduled time than I had before Covid, and have been feeling (like in the dream) adrift and unmoored. Not sure what to leave behind, not sure what the Universe is trying to tell me.
One year (and counting) into this pandemic, and I can barely remember what it felt like to have a jam-packed day and then gratefully collapse back home, grateful to slow down at last. Can you?
So - we adjust. I've jumped (or been forced to jump) many times before, and have always landed on my feet. I bet you have as well.
But in-between the old and the new, there is that time we spend adrift. Boats unmoored, not quite knowing how to navigate.
Still - there is a lesson in everything. I firmly believe that. I have to. I've been unmoored before - and, looking back, it always led me to greater things.
So - we adjust. I've jumped (or been forced to jump) many times before, and have always landed on my feet. I bet you have as well.
My husband deserted our family when my kids were 3 and 6, leaving me to fully support and raise my son and daughter. This led to a new career as a radio broadcaster, and also a drama teacher. It also inspired me to greater heights as an actor and voice talent.
After 17 years, the radio station decided suddenly to "make a change". I felt lost (unmoored). This feeling led to time to write my book (Ben Behind His Voices) - and to my speaking career, national and international.
Two years ago, I discovered that my biological father was actually a sperm donor - and my whole concept of "family" had to change. This led to discoveries: a new genetic half-sister; a reinforced concept of the value of "shared experience" and that family is what you embrace.
Every job loss, every relationship gone pffft!, every empty space left when you lose something is also an opportunity. Sometimes you know where to steer the boat - sometimes you don't. In that case, some faith is required.
Stop flailing and complaining
Let Go of the past
Listen to what the world seemed to be telling me
Trust that you don't know - or control - everything. But you do have choices.
Take a New Step off the boat onto that new land.
How about you? When have you been set adrift in the past, and what happened (oh, hindsight, you fantastic teacher). What did you learn? What new things did the open sea lead you do?
Unmoored. For now. Where will you travel to?
