"One does not discover new lands
without consenting to lose sight of the shore for a very long time." - Andre Gide
Do you ever feel 'adrift'? I know I
do. And when I'm feeling adrift, I also
feel lost, alone, and longing for the security of things known. This quote by
Gide helped me to realize that what I am feeling at those times is not
something peculiar to me, but rather is also experienced by others. I
asked a few people I trusted if they also felt this way sometimes. And of
course they answered in the affirmative!
And so I started thinking about my
life, and specifically about those times when I have felt 'adrift'. One time
that comes readily to my memory, is bringing home our firstborn. I am an only
child and so had never had any experience with caring for an infant. I
certainly felt lost and alone especially when my husband (who was equally
inexperienced!) was away at work. By reaching out to friends, family, and of
course, in the 1960s, to Dr Spock, I managed to stay afloat until when our
daughter arrived three years later, I was no longer 'adrift'.
Another more recent time that comes
to mind is just over a year ago, when I retired for the third time ... this
time from my job of being a church secretary for 10 years. My life was without
form or meaning, and again I had no idea where those things were to be found.
Writing this blog is one of the things that I decided to do to give some shape
to my week. The idea was not mine, but rather was a suggestion from a friend.
Now 21 months later, I feel no longer 'adrift' in how my week is structured
thanks once again to the support I have received from others over those months.
I'm sure we all have had similar
times in our lives and if we are lucky have found others who are able to help
us through those times until they become only a memory. These 'new lands' are
the easy ones to conquer.
What has caused you to feel 'adrift' lately?
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