You can’t cross the sea merely by standing and staring at the water.

– Rabindranath Tagore

If you read my recent blog post on kedging, I have a bit of advice to throw out (along with that kedge).

Here’s the advice: kedge responsibly.

My new and most excellent chiropractor/kinesiologist, Jeff, is taking my health to heart (every pun intended) – my whole health. Due to a minor blood pressure issue requiring some temporary conventional meds from a cardiologist, I sought alternative whole body health advice. Jeff was recommended to me by a trusted (and very healthy) friend.

Whole body health. What a concept. And Jeff is doing my body good.

He is thrilled that I’m a power walker (my exercise drug of choice), but quickly picked up on my type A personality. As I improve under his care, he’s asked me not to get into that “cocky zone” (a technical term) of over-exerting myself.

If you’ve been under the weather (which is a strange expression in and of itself) or have a health issue (like moi), don’t go throwing that kedge out ahead of you as if you’d just won a body building contest.

So Jeff’s guideline for me: walk until I’m exhilarated, not exhausted.

And he’s right. I want to work with my body, not do it in by thinking I can force wellness. Really, would I do that? Me?

Seems the same is true in all other aspects of my life. I can try to force this business of living or I can get into a healthy rhythm. In order to “re-story” my life, as a daily practice I can throw my kedge out ahead of me little by little. I can move my life forward slowly and gain strength. That way, I don’t get swept away by everyday currents – email, social media, writing, editing, finances, deadlines, commitments, family, kitty litter – you get the picture.

Life is one boat trip I don’t want to miss.

So how’s that kedging coming?

Want to change your life? Try kedging (yes, kedging!)

It’s not easy trying to figure out our lives, and many of us tend to go on autopilot and hope for the best. We get stuck…and stay stuck.

New means and measures are often needed to get unstuck. Like what?

Kedging.

Kedging?

Yes, kedging. A sailing term explained in the following excerpt from Lodge and Crowley’s entertaining book on health, Younger Next Year for Women:

“Here’s an introduction to the mystery of kedging. It goes like this. The captain of a becalmed and threatened vessel has a light anchor (called a kedge) loaded into a longboat and rowed half a mile or so away. The longboat crew pops the anchor over the side, makes sure it’s “set” on the bottom, and then everyone back on the big boat pulls like demons on the line, literally hauling the ship to the anchor. Then they do the whole business again, until they get where they want to go.

“So…kedging: climbing out of the ordinary, setting a [much needed] goal and working like crazy to get there. To save yourself.”

Chris goes on to say (about obtaining good health), “Sometimes in life you’re going to need some tricks. You’re going to need a damn good kedge.”

And if you are wanting to change your life, ready to get outside of your ordinary routine and allow yourself to go in a direction you didn’t believe possible, then I have just the kedge for you: A Jeanne Guy Workshop, where you will learn you have tools at your disposal that you’re not aware of. Just as the captain realized he could use an anchor to move the ship rather than stay stuck, you can move your life forward, too!

Explore and improve your life through the power of journal writing and small group deep conversation known as “Circles.” My philosophy is “if you want a better life, it’s time to write a better story.” And these workshops offer the support, structure, encouragement and empowerment needed to explore your personal story, examine your creative options and ultimately re-story your life.

So throw your anchor, your kedge, your dream out ahead of you and pull yourself toward it. You can get unstuck and move your life forward. Kedging is the answer.  

Here’s to re-storying our lives!

If you want a better life, it’s time to write a better story…