“Because when you are present, the world is truly alive” ~ unknown Budhist
Yet I am perpetually living in the before and after, living either forward or backwards.
But the life mimics the ocean mimics the life..
You cannot wait for the waves to stop crashing before you jump in. In fact, the longer you wait on the waters edge, the more often you are going to get knocked down.
And the waves pull me back in, often push me down to the earth, forcing a suspension of time so I might catch my breath.
As a child these same waves did not appear so intrusive, perhaps because they were so much larger than me, and all encompassing.
But now…
How we have grown above them and are now looking down on upon them. The fall will be much longer, and it has become harder to dive directly into them. So we attempt to stand our ground, yet the waves continue to pound and nip and prick at our ankles and lower half, lest we ultimately dive in.
Or alternatively, we retreat to the shore, and watch all those waves and voyage opportunities pass us by.
And it is astonishing to think of how many waves there are in existence, yet NO TWO are the same. And even if you ride one well, even if the next one looks almost EXACTLY the same, there is no guarantee you will ride that one well, or ride it at all.
And the longer we are on this earth, the harder it gets to dive in, the risks are greater, and our capacity to navigate and traverse the tides have likely diminished in comparison to earlier days. But when that wave comes barreling towards you, the best way to get through it is to dive HEAD FIRST directly into it, and you’ll be amazed at how quickly you pop out the other side.
And as I lay on that shore, listening to the rhythmic push and pull of the crashing waves, it is a comforting reminder of the world waiting for me to dive back in.
The tides will continue to roll through, regardless of my preparedness. They will surely push me down upon entry. Force salt in my nose, and toss me around before I can return upright. But I can remain afloat in her warm embrace, weightless and effortlessly allowing the salt water to soothe and heal, and exfoliate all the previous days wounds, before pushing me back ashore.
So the cycle may start
All…
Over…
Again.
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again.
Ride those waves..
RIDE those waves.
RIDE THOSE MUTHERF(#*NG WAVES.
You will never be ready,
But you will stay afloat.
Until next time my loves….
Holden Beach, NC
NEGATIVE SPACE 