There’s a story my friend Pasha told me about about a mythic band of magic-loving Irish folk. Feeling the call for newness, they would forge out to settle on a new island. Necessarily, they would make the journey by ship. When they arrived to their next land they would unpack — and then promptly burn their boats.

No desire to go back. Focused forward. New journey, new way of getting there, new results.

Usually we want to do more of what got us to where we are. There is safety in repetition. Familiarity, best practices, proven techniques. I think the Bright Future craves more daring from us.

a testimony to the future

I bless the path that showed itself to me

astute, blind, courageous, clever, faithfully

I forged and floated

to now.

I testify to the utility of all that was then.

I testify to where I now stand: I AM here.

I testify to my capacity to craft

new ways of getting where I want to go.

I am the journey.

I am the path.

I am the destination.

I’m burning the boat that carried me to here in my career. She was a damn sturdy vessel. A solid muthah. I loved her hard, I carved my name in her mast. We weathered storms. I’m pulling up to a new land of opportunity. I can feel the belly of my boat hitting sand. It’s coming time to swim to shore for fresh fruit, deep deep trust, radiance, relief. I look back at my boat. And I think, Damn, your diligence could come in handy. You’re such a hard worker. I should keep you docked. But I sense my future will require wings instead of sails. Less work, more play. With gratitude, I strike a match.

What boat do you need to burn?