One of the books that I’m reading for a course right now is the Essays of Ralph Waldo Emerson. Written during the 1800’s, the language is – well, lets just say it’s not what I’m used to reading in current language.
I find myself saying, “Wait a minute, what did he just say?” and re-reading the same paragraph or sentence. A lot.
But ah, there are the gems. Words that leap from the page and sink into my being. Phrases that have become part of our language today, which is just one indication of why his wisdom has endured for over 100 years. This particular quote was one of them.
I’m not a sailor but my cousin is and he explained to me what tacking is several years ago. When the wind is not in the right direction for a journey of a straight line, a sailor tacks – using the wind to zigzag back and forth to maintain the overall direction of the journey. Which is pretty much what life. We do zigzag, we do course correct constantly. I chose the quote as the basis for this week’s intention, which is more of an affirmation, because I want to celebrate the richness and diversity that ‘tacking’ brings to life.
I appreciate each course correction and zigzag in my life as part of my growth, and I celebrate my life journey of a hundred tacks.
