I love the ocean, the sound of it, the daily calming walks by it, even just sitting there watching it as the waves crash off the shore.
There is something so peaceful about it, the energy it gives, I thrive off it.
I've been fortunate to live quite close to the ocean, and it is definitely on the wish list when picking hotel accommodation on holidays.
Many of my email inspirations come from sitting by the ocean. And funnily enough, this one won't be any different.
Watching and observing surfers in the sea has become my latest obsession, from the newbies on the beach learning how to stand up to the more experienced ones sitting on their boards patiently awaiting that perfect wave to come along.
And when it comes along, what a sight it is to witness, as they glide along, gaining speed, flowing so gracefully, a feeling indescribable by anyone other than those who experienced it.
But, before this, the surfer must paddle out on their board.
Their arms work tirelessly to help them as they go against the flow of the ocean, increasing speed as they move into the path of incoming waves, to which they perform the duck dive.
Duck Diving is an essential tool in becoming a competent surfer. It is how a surfer dive under an oncoming wave as they paddle out to the line-up. Ducking under the wave ensures that all the progress made by paddling out is not setback by being washed backward by the tide.
Pretty much similar to life, right?
We have all tried to get to a point in life (the sea) or reached a particular goal, tried to make that relationship work, get that perfect job or get that work project over the line.
It is also hard bloody work, where we will encounter incoming waves, ready to set us back, further than our starting point, and right enough, they do come along and feel they are pushing you back from your destination. Giving that feeling that you are getting nowhere. Make you feel like throwing in the towel.
But, how long do you think it took a surfer to learn how to duck dive or even think of the idea? How many attempts or setbacks did they have to endure?
I'm sure it got to the point where they were sick of that feeling of getting nowhere, making that goal or point in the sea seem impossible to reach.
Getting out to that perfect break became an obsession too much to let go of, determined to get to those ideal waves, to bring that state of flow.
In life, we can also learn how to duck dive and use the tools to allow us all to face that incoming wave and not get knocked back further than we have taken so long to finally reach.
Tools that work for us as individuals, these tools are unique to everyone, with the added awareness of the knowledge that waves will come along but be also better equipped to face them.
Remember, once we have gotten to that point (in the sea, in life), that wave will eventually come along, bringing that feeling inside, that happiness and joy as you ride it, that unbeatable feeling that you want to last forever.
But back to the surfers, and when the wave ends, and they jump off, or a giant wave takes them out, and they come crashing down.
What does the surfer do?
I’ll tell you..
They get right back up on that board, resurface from that sea, paddle back out again, and repeat it over and over because that feeling of riding the wave is addictive.
It’s a feeling they want to feel over and over, they never want it to end.
That happy, effortless feeling of flow, where there are no worries, no distractions, and everything seems perfect at that precise time.
Now, I know the hurt, pain, grief, and those anxious feelings in real life are a lot more painful than falling into the sea.
Learning to get there is hard work. It requires us to be vulnerable and uncomfortable at times.
It doesn’t happen overnight, and it also requires using the right tools for us to get there.
We have to be patient with ourselves, be open to keep learning and find the process that works for us.
Life brings waves in all areas, and sometimes it will feel like they just keep coming, bringing a feeling that there is no way out.
Trust that calmer waters are coming if we manage to keep strong and focused.
Using the methods that work for you, and not giving up, shows that determination to get you back to that happy, joyful state again.
Remember,
You may not be able to stop the waves,
but,
You can learn how to surf.
thanks for reading
Marcus