One of the big changes I've undergone in recent years (even before life on the boat) was realizing that I am who I am.
With glasses or contacts,
With kids in the background and sweatpants or dressed up,
With flip-flops or heels,
In the office or on the boat,
In reality or online.
We often talk about work-life balance,
But we forget that sometimes life happens.
Even if we planned, even if we wanted,
Even if it was really, really important,
Something else happened in our lives that threw us off balance:
A child needing attention,
A spilled glass of water,
A sudden fever,
Seasickness that sent me running to the bathroom.
And we immediately feel guilty,
Because it wasn't supposed to happen,
Because suddenly, they see the personal side,
Because it's not what I want to project,
Because they expect me to be more professional,
Because being professional means nothing should ever stop me from being a perfect worker.
Now, honestly, isn't it nice to see that we are all just people with lives that happen?
So maybe instead of judging ourselves and worrying about expectations that don't really exist,
We should focus on the value we bring,
From home, from the office, from the boat,
With sand or sea or children in the background,
In reality or on Zoom.
And if we focus on the value and nothing else,
Then the hours won't matter,
Nor will physical presence.
And the balance each of us finds will just work.
We'll normalize that life happens,
and life comes first
And then we'll stop wasting time on unnecessary apologies.
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