EVEN KEEL
Our balance depends to a large extent on what kind of “keel” we have.
If I understand my nautical terms, the keel is the bottom, or the “base” of the boat (or
“ship”, I suppose, one might more accurately say] and unless this foundation is properly
designed for the type of seafaring we intend to do, we will find that our vessel has troubles
and will not perform in the ways we expected of it.
Too often we grow up thinking that this is something we can change, or , at least,
modify through formal education and by taking various 101’s to qualify for participation in a
certain subject area. It is, however, not all a physical thing. Much of it has to do with mental
processes rather than physical ones.
The “Old Folks” we are given to quote so often, largely because we don’t know who
ever said what we are quoting, if anyone, used to maximize young people with the words: “
You are what you want to be.”
It’s true, too. I think most of us would find, if we were completely honest with ourselves
that there are certain traits in our basic makeup which determine, to a large extent, what
we try to accomplish. Most have to do with general trends rather than specific acts.
I am quite sure the learned ones in the ever expanding educational area have
developed more elaborate terms for all such actions in our lives. Most of us however,
entangled as we are in the actual living of our lives, it is are somewhat entangled in needs
and desires and we can measure who we are by considering what it is we most often wish
could be ours. That, in time, will be what we become.
We form the keel of our lives in the early years, as we learn ,often through what often
seems to be cruel experiences, that our life has a purpose and that if we intend to sail the
high and stormy seas of glamorous adventure we must give attention of building a deeper,
narrower, more dedicated keel as our base. If we are content to remain in the relatively
shallow, less demanding waters of living except on rare occasions when the immediate
sailing weather is deemed to be perfect for us.
It may be a bit late for most of us to try to rectify any mistakes we made years ago but
we should try to find out what those errors may have been and attempt to guide a course
suitable for the type of keel we have developed. We do, however, owe it to our children and
grandchildren to guide them, as early as possible, in making positive choices. We should try to
instill in them the importance of planning for what they want to be and in working toward
that goal, forming basic structures in their young lives upon which their ship of living may be
constructed for maximum potential.
A.L.M. May 30, 2002 [c506wds]
