The Anchor

A friend of mine told me about a story he saw on a sports news show the other day.  It was an update on a tragic event that happened to four athletes years ago in Florida.  As he told me about the story I kept thinking he was describing a blockbuster movie.  Surely this couldn't have happened in real life.  
In 2009 four men set out on a fishing trip in Tampa, Florida.  After a couple of hours at sea, they encountered a problem with the anchor on the fishing boat.  A couple of weeks before the trip, the owner of the boat had the same problem with the anchor and he cut the rope and purchased another $200 anchor.  This time, the owner decided he didn't want to cut the rope and lose another anchor.  In an effort to fix the anchor, the boat flipped over. Within a span of 43 hours, three of the men died leaving one for the rescuers to find.  One of the reporters said what was on my mind from the beginning:

Why didn't they just cut the rope from the anchor?

This question started a deep discussion between my friend and I.  How could something that, on a larger scale, seem so insignificant, yet be important enough to lose a life?  Three lives?  

In hindsight, haven’t we all had something in our lives that we weren't willing to let go that later proved to be deadly?  If we take a deeper look in to our lives, we may find situations where the only way to survive is to cut the rope.  Which one of these anchors do you identify with?

• A toxic relationship that you have become so comfortable with, you can’t seem to end it
• Staying at a dead end job instead of exploring opportunities to utilize your true talents
• Holding on to un-forgiveness for that person that hurt you years ago.
• A negative habit that you would rather continue, than stop to improve your quality of life.
• Fear that keeps you from going after your dreams

    

      These are just a few examples of circumstances that have a negative effect in our lives when we hold on to them.  What constantly gets overlooked is that our decisions not only affect us, but they affect those around us.  In the situation with men on the boat, three out of the four lost their lives, but they left behind mothers, wives, sons, daughters, and friends.  Not only did they have to live with the consequences of their decisions, but so do their loved ones. 

    

      I know a woman that worked her government job for many years with empty promises of a promotion.  Although over the years her growing experience and education made her overqualified for the position she held, she never advanced.  She was uncomfortably comfortable in her situation, but too afraid to seek better employment.  Eventually, after budget cuts and a decade of service, she was laid off.  The anchors she held on to cost her a career, caused her financial instability, and lead her down a road of self-esteem.  

      

     What are the anchors you hold on to?  In the bigger picture, is it really worth losing a piece of yourself over?  Sometimes you have to just cut the rope and sail on.  

   Mending Maria