Pursue

Set sail.

The words echoed in my thoughts and fueled my desire to press on. Adversity comes in many forms, but I’d not yet had the opportunity to face a storm at sea. I was landlocked and lonesome, dreaming of adventure.

Set sail.

Repetitive, alarming and captivating, I began to recite the words with varying tones and emphasis. Was it a command? A suggestion? Perhaps an idea or a crazy notion? Whatever the source, the near haunting words left me unable to accept what had been my three decade span of life.

Having been raised in a small community whose inhabitants championed the art of gossip, I was sure to be the talk of the town. Though it was unsettling to think of a tarnished reputation, my bag was packed and there was no turning back. One step... Two steps... Open door... That’s how it began. And of course, the ever present call, “Set sail.”