Several years ago I noticed a book called Not Wanted on the Voyage by Canadian Author Timothy Findlay. I found the title interesting and at some point discovered it was a term used for trunks and baggage to be stowed away in a ship's storage area until a passenger reached their destination since they did not need them while travelling.
I have been thinking about life and the journey we are all on. I have found that various small nuisances and unexpected expenses can often throw your routine and schedule right out the window. In terms of nuisances, having to rush back home because it is pouring rain and you are without an umbrella, definitely qualifies. This can often lead you to need to rush to avoid being late for your appointment. Tax time, sometimes requires additional funds to be paid before the April 30th deadline. Perhaps, though, receiving your home insurance bill and an annual doctor's service charge bill at the same time, were neither expected nor welcome. Suddenly $1,000 needs to be found somewhere, above and beyond the tax costs you anticipated.
But life, is only somewhat effected by money, although far too many arguments in life are about money. The way we treat each other, the people we have around us to support and encourage us and those we know care about us, can often be the people who help us to use our good judgement and sense of perspective when life throws us a financial or emotional curve ball. To me, they are far more important than the latest trinket I threw money away on.
What do we need on our voyage through life? The above mentioned friends, family and others who care about us are really important. Having some money, enough for food, shelter and some of the things beyond this which we are convinced we want. Some calm place to live which we feel is home and a haven at times when the noisy, interfering world is just a bit too much to put up with. Reasonably good health is pretty important, without it we can't function as well as we would like and may also have mobility problems and pain to somehow endure and overcome.
What don't we need? We don't need people who ask a lot and give nothing. We don't need bitter, unkind and unreasonable people. I was only partly kidding when I used to tell people that a good rule in life is not to sleep with people crazier than yourself. Now I would not joke about such a thing and take 'craziness' as far more serious than I did earlier in life.
What I am trying to say is, reflect occasionally about what you need as opposed to what you want, or think you want. You will find that you instinctively understand when a situation is not right for you. Sometimes, however, you will still take a chance and try something new deliberately to challenge yourself a bit. However, there will also be times when your experience in life will have taught you that there are some things and some people that you definitely can say are 'not wanted on the voyage'. Just as many of us could not travel with various people we know, so also in life is easier to have a friend accompany you on your journey. Travel with those which you both want and need to have by your side.
March 20, 2014
