The Shellfish Constable

I was recently in Gloucester, Massachusetts, and went to Wingaersheek Beach for an early morning swim and came across this car.

It turns out shellfish are so important they have their own constable! It’s one of the top 3 most regulated items in the state and when I asked the constable what she does, she shared that she makes sure people don’t get sick from the shellfish they dig up on the shoreline by checking water quality and other factors that affect shellfish health. She also makes sure they have all the right permits and paperwork.

It made me wonder about what warranted a constable? Should we have a Kindness Constable? Or a Listening Constable? What about a Boundaries Constable? When it comes to permits, can you imagine if you had a date sign a permit if they wanted to start a relationship with you that regulated the terms of your relationship?

I know it sounds crazy, but it’s some food for thought for today.

What in your life warrants this amount of care and regulation? How would you regulate it? We have so many unspoken “constables” in our psyches that control what we do and how we do it, that protect ourselves from perceived danger. Personally, I have a very powerful inner constable that manages what I say and don’t say.

Less destructive than an inner demon, more protective than an inner child, your constable is always watching out for you. It would be good to get to know him or her.

3 Ways to Get to Know Your Inner Constable

1. Notice your own internal rules and what you give yourself permission to do or not to do. This could be around what you say, what you eat, what you ask for. Write them down as you notice them. I always use my Notes app for this.
2. Notice where your boundaries are for the people in your life. What is ok and what is not ok? What do you consider acceptable behavior from your significant other, family members, and friends? Write it down.
3. Review these two lists. Notice your rules for yourself and then your rules for the others in your life. Where do they align? As you review your lists, what has the most charge for you, meaning what brings up the strongest feelings?

As you review these lists, you’ll get a sense of the role you’ve given your inner constable. You may be surprised at how different your rules are for yourself versus for the people around you.

You may have “hired” for this role when you were very young and if so, perhaps it’s time to revisit if they’re serving you but first, thank this part of you for all they’ve done to keep you safe.

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This post was previously published on MEDIUM.COM.

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