The Albatross Around Your Neck

One of the greatest works of English Literature, “The Rime of The Ancient Mariner”, by Samuel Taylor Coleridge, imparts a powerful message.

The story of an old sailor, with captivating eyes, telling his tale, in the form of an elongated yet beautiful poem. For the lesser read, you may recognise the same from Iron Maiden’s infamous cover version.

For the absolutely ignorant, the tale is about how a sailor was punished by his own crew by hanging the albatross he killed at sea around his neck as they considered the bird to be a sign of good-luck as it brought with it the healthy winds, clear skies and bright sunshine which helped them out of the Antarctic where they were trapped due to a storm. The murder of the bird arouses the wrath of the spirits which eventually led the ship back into icy waters where it was then becalmed.

Ever since, the phrase “Albatross around your neck” has been synonymous with the mistakes/choices people end up having to live with. In other words, it refers to the “baggage” which people lug, physically and emotionally. It may be a bad relationship, it may be parental or peer issues, educational, etc.

The problem? There is absolutely no problem carrying your “baggage”, that’s your problem to deal with, one arises when earthlings let theirs affect the decisions, which in turn affects the present which in turn affects somebody else.

The solution? Yes, you may have your past, who doesn’t? But, a past is called so, for a reason, realise it, acknowledge it and learn from it. Earthlings need to take the Albatross off their necks, drop their baggage, there are better things to do and to worry about in life. In life, the best way to travel is with a hand-baggage of good company, good music and good vibes.

This gives way to the most clichéd line, “Your past should not be something that pulls you down, it should be a learning curve and a stepping stone to something bigger and better.”

After all, what makes a man, is not the choices he makes, not the path he chooses but, the way he decides to end things.

Cheers