CAST ADRIFT

WINNING LETTER

‘Yourconfidence isshort-lived fearstart wavesof you knocking around’

LET me take you on a trip of the retrenched. You’ve been cruising on this secure, comfortable ship for many years, giving no thought to “what if ”, until the R word makes you its next victim. As you leave your ship and take the walk of shame down the plank of retrenchment into the sea of uncertainty, you don’t know what the long and tiring journey will bring. You hit the water and are surprised that it doesn’t feel too awful. You start treading water and it doesn’t feel that bad. You’re going to make it. All you need is another vessel.

Your confidence is short-lived as the waves of fear start knocking you around, slowly at first but building into huge rushes that push you under each time: fear of rejection, fear of not being good enough, fear of change. Just as you think you won’t make it, the waves retreat long enough for you to catch your breath and think clearer.

But the longer you tread water with no vessel in sight, the more your energy level starts to wane. Your emotions are as unstable as the waves. You feel hope, belief and the depths of despair – and so it goes on. Then out of nowhere there’s a boat and you scramble aboard with no hesitation. Relief at last.

With the calm comes a renewed lease of life. I’ll make it to safety and security. Maybe not as fast, but I’ll make it.

This story isn’t over as I’m still on my journey, learning as I go. We’re all travelling this journey – some in a cruise ship, others in a tug boat. Be kind! LEE, EMAIL