The Art of the Tack

Written in the Fall of 2023

They say that sailing is a metaphor for life.

I’ve learned a lot about the perfect pivot— in sailing they call this maneuver a tack. 

Crossing the bow of the boat through the wind. 

Perfecting it takes preparation, a steady skipper, and a good bow-swain.

I’m a firm believer in the goodness in the world (especially of people) on the water and in living. 

It’s funny how both life and sailing teaches me the same lesson until I learn it. 

You can’t chase the wind— it has a mind of its own. 

You can study it for hours and days and watch it dance across the water but you can’t ever 1000% predict it with certainty.  

I don’t chase, I attract.

I keep re-learning that lesson to say the least.