The Art of Surfing through this Quarantine
The art of surfing is much like the art of trekking through life, through difficult times, which we are in now.
The start: I get pumped to jump into the water, wetsuit on; feeling nervous energy but mostly excitement and joy. Getting to the beach I start to watch the waves, this part is important: sizing up the scene! (CPR joke). You try to visualize your entry point, where you’re headed. You make a plan for yourself. You see where the waves are breaking, where the other surfers are clustered, and you see where you might be able to enter with as much ease as possible (I think this is called the dead zone - where the waves are unlikely to break).
In Life…
Having a general plan is good, although you never really know how it’s going to turn out. Taking a step back, watching, sizing up your options, waiting to make a decision, practicing patience, and formulating a plan are generally good ideas.
On the Beach…
I head out to the water. Even though I had a “plan,” the waves started crashing down… It took a lot of effort, more effort then I was anticipating to get past the crash zone or impact zone, also called the “inside” (when a surfer is trapped between the shoreline and the breaking waves). It takes a lot of effort to get to the clear zone, the zone past where the waves crash, where you can rest and catch your breath. I got pummeled pretty hard trying to get out to clear water. I knew I had definitely experienced worse yet here I was. Sometimes getting pummeled makes you want to give up. I definitely felt that way after the third time I got punched by a wave, and I was underwater swirling for what seemed like a long four seconds.
In Life…
Life throws waves at you: this coronavirus thing, losing your job, unemployment, loved ones getting sick, etc. What gets you through? Surfing is a great teacher. It teaches me resilience and reminds me to keep going. Knowing from past experiences: all the years I played water polo and thought I was going to die, that one time I swam from Alcatraz to San Francisco, or the many times I’ve been surfing… Even though it’s difficult, I had the confidence knowing that I’ve done this before. I can make it through this. I can make it to the clear zone where I can rest and renew, take a breath, and then do it all again when I feel ready.
What is that special thing called? Is it confidence? Is it bravery? Stupidity? I think the word that best sums it up is resiliency. Knowing that we’ve done this before, we can make it through this, and having hope that we will. The clear zone exists, it is in sight. I did get there because of my desire, strong intention and effort. And when I got there I rested for as long as I wanted! It was beautiful and serene. I enjoyed the feel and the smell of the water. I enjoyed how foggy, unclear and unknown my surroundings were. Just waves covered by fog, flowing randomly. A complete unknown. I became accepting and in awe with it. I watched the other surfers and people on the beach. It’s only when we get to the clear zone that we can see clearly! If we’re struggling to survive: we’re only focused on trying to survive! If we’re in the clear zone we can open ourselves up to focus on other things. Breathe, take in, experience and just be. I think we are all existing somewhat in-between the “inside” and the clear zone. Some days we might feel like we’re in the clear zone, the next day or even the next moment we might feel struggle: the fight to survive. I feel that fight now.
My future is anxiously unknown. I “think” I have my survival needs planned out until July. And after July it feels “completely” unknown. The reality is that even tomorrow is unknown and knowing this can make the present moment that much sweeter. I am learning to sit in the grounding of this message, “I don’t know what the future holds, but I know everything will work out. And it will work out the way it is supposed to. I am supported.” Nature is supporting itself in the way it’s already going. There’s a strong belief in society of scarcity. But in actuality there is enough to support us, and if we start looking around, I mean really looking, we cant help but catch glimpses of abundance. I think I don’t need much. A roof over my head, food, connection with others, to be loved and love others, some sort of feeling like I have purpose and power/control over my life. That’s basically it folks. Take a deep breath and take that all in.
The second time out: I caught and rode a wave in. I felt rested enough and I was ready to get back into the action. Then I was back in the “inside” zone… We have to effort (with ease) to get back to the clear zone! Going back and forth, that is life. The second time around, we’re a little smarter. I realized I was pushing too hard the first time. I learned some new skills to preserve my energy. I had a different approach. I was more relaxed the second time.
The big wave...
Sometimes, we have a plan to get to the clear zone… We’re almost there, we can taste it, then: we see a massive, huge, ginormous wave in our path. We basically have two options: get totally whitewashed, or catch the huge wave. This huge wave could be symbolic of someone dying, or a huge job opportunity, something unexpected that really takes you for a turn. I decided to turn around, and catch that bad boy. What a ride! It took me all the way back to the beach! It was worth it! Sometimes life throws us big waves, and we might not think we are ready for them. We always have at least two options: take it, or fight it. So why not go with the flow and take it? It might pay off.
Surfing makes me “feel" and reminds me that I am powerful, confident, beautiful, strong, resilient, and graceful (to name a few - haha!). What are some activities that remind you of that? What are some activities that give you a sense of serenity? Of peace? That everything will be okay? That gets you closer to feeling like your vital self! That makes you feel alive and whole!
There will be an end to shelter in place and why not ride the waves together. What will you do? Will you fight it or catch the wave? Will you muscle through to the clear zone and know you can’t hang out there forever? Will you create the confidence in yourself that you will make it back to the clear zone because you’ve been there before?
Thank you so much for reading. I wish you peace in being with all of these waves. And know, that the waves are just a part of life. The Ocean doesn’t just stop. The tides don’t stop. The waves will always continue. Don’t try to fix, change, or control the waves! You cannot control them. What you can control is: how you respond to the waves and how you respond to that response. I ask you: how will you respond?
Know that you are not alone. We are all surfing these waves together. So don’t be a stranger surfer! And please reach out if you need. Reaching out is a great way to deal with the waves (in my opinion). When you connect with another surfer and say, “Dude, these waves are totally tubular bro.” And your friend responds, “Dude, I know.” That is where the magic happens. That is why we are all here! To connect, to be heard, understood, and seen. To know that we are not alone and we are supported. You are not alone. If anything, these large waves are bringing us closer together. Closer to our hearts, closer to each other and closer to what really matters.
Peace be with you. Peace and love and joy and connection.
Peace. Peace. Peace.
So much love. Thank you for riding these waves with me. I am grateful to have you in my life.
Eden