I received a lot of encouragement on my previous post where I shared about my professional growth during our journey. Many of you resonated with the idea of taking a break and how empowering it is to realize that things take time and don’t happen overnight.
This journey wasn’t just about travel - it became an inner transformation that reshaped my outlook on what truly matters.
The biggest change for me on this journey was allowing myself to step back from perfection and forgive myself for letting things go. I do less, but I do it well. I learned to embrace a more relaxed way of living and find areas where compromise is not only possible but necessary for our well-being.
In our previous life, we were always racing against time - trying to check off every item on our to-do lists. Wake up early, organize everything, leave on time, don’t get upset, support everyone around me-and still manage to smile when things inevitably went wrong. This relentless pace left little room for the present moment.
Trying to juggle work and being with the kids often meant the kids lost out. I’d wait for a response, an email, or a call - something that always felt more pressing than playing another game of make-believe. It’s hard to admit, but it’s true. My mind was often elsewhere, leaving both me and the kids feeling disconnected.
On the boat, this cycle couldn’t continue. With the kids by our side 24/7 and the constraints of living on a sailboat, we had to adjust. If I can’t talk during a sail, then I simply can’t. If we’re on the beach, the phone stays on the side. If I need an hour alone, the kids watch a movie or play Xbox-and that’s okay.
We can’t sail, work, cook, parent, clean, and fix the boat all at once. Living on the boat forced us to set priorities and, most importantly, stick to them. We chose to prioritize family and the shared experience of this journey.
Our old life was a constant balancing act, but it lacked clarity. Moving onto the boat allowed us to define what truly mattered. We’ve learned that it’s okay to let go of the pursuit of perfection. It’s okay to choose family over finishing every task. Life on the boat has shown us that things still get done, even if they happen a little slower, and that’s a lesson I never want to forget.
Letting go of perfection isn’t giving up - it’s making space for what truly matters.
And when I see my kids laughing together, the sunsets we enjoy as a family, and the quiet moments we share on deck, I know that letting go was the best choice we could have made.
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