I live in a wonderful little town on the shores of Lake Michigan, and of all the icons associated with this town, my favorite is our lighthouse.  A beautiful, almost magical landmark, it has welcomed travelers for more than 100 years.  The original purpose of a lighthouse was to provide a guiding beacon, an aid to captains and crews of passing ships in figuring out their locations and to warn them of impending dangers.  But with modern technology, lighthouses' usefulness have been usurped.  Or have they?

We navigate dangerous waters on a daily basis in our personal and professional lives.  And as if the navigation alone wasn't enough to challenge our courage, looking for lighthouses and guiding beacons really puts us to the test.  It ain't easy asking for help, and it's toughest on those of us (yes, that would include me) who think we're so strong we don't need help. 

Well here's a news flash for my Type A sisters and brothers: find the courage to ask for the help you need.  Remember the quote, "No man is an island?"  What the author, John Donne, meant by that was that all of mankind is interconnected.  That's a good thing.  Makes us feel cozy.  But with that comes the responsibility of making this the best of all possible worlds.  That's where the guiding beacons come in.  We can use them to draw strength, and that in turn feeds our courage, which ultimately keeps us going forward.  So where do we find these lighthouses of life?

1. In the quiet: Some people call it faith, some call it meditation.  Whatever you call it, periodically stop your world for ten minutes, sit quietly and listen to nature and your own breath. 
2. In friends: True friends don't mind if you dump on them (periodically).  And the view of your life through another set of eyes is unparalleled in value.
3. In strangers: Strangers? Bet you didn't see that one coming.  It's true, though - many times I've made an off handed comment to a clerk or fellow elevator inhabitant and received really interesting feedback.
4. In children: Yours or others, kids say the darndest things.  They have an entirely different perspective (must be something to do with height), and the opinions of grown children can really surprise you.  Mine do on a daily basis.

 

There are dozens more places to find beacons, but the point is, never let your courage tank drop so low that you're afraid to ask for a hand.  Put another way, when life's waters get rough and the fog rolls in, navigate toward a lighthouse!