Waves
Watching waves is ahh-mazing. The sound, shifting shapes, salt in the air, mixed colors; taken together, it’s hypnotic. Every wave is unique, but they all keep moving. Some increase in force, with a crest that rises until top-heavy momentum crashes it forward - a churn and bubble out. Some just swell and roll then dwindle. There’s scientific evidence that watching waves lowers your heart rate, blood pressure, and can induce a meditative state (i.e., a zone out). It’s no wonder that peeps flock to the beach in droves and camp out for hours. Seriously though, it takes a crawler and chains to drag my sisters and I off the beach, especially at sunset… fuhgeddaboudit
I was a mermaid last week, at the beach body surfing with my teens. At first, it’s a gamble on which waves we’ll dive through to get farther out, float with, or jump into for a carry crash. After a while, we think we can recognize which ones we can catch, but many are unpredictable. I like to catch swells for a sweet moment of weightlessness; a lil jump, and I get carried up and forward, floating, free. If I remain rigid in the sand, a strong wave could bowl me over in a blink (it happens). Relaxing and moving with the waves, or diving right into them - this makes a completely different -and more enjoyable experience
Change is constant. In this way, waves seem an analogy to the ebb and flow of life. There will be tides, hurricanes, calm days. And about hurricanes, my daughter and I noticed a change in the water from Wednesday to Thursday last week (we stayed north of Milton’s landfall). The days following the hurricane brought the clearest, calmest water, and it changed overnight. Facing a challenge? It’ll pass. Having a peaceful day? It’ll pass too
Practicing yoga improves physical flexibility, for sure. But, touching your toes doesn’t help one navigate life. It may seem like a leap to go from a yoga practice to “off the mat” application, but truth be told, it’s the lessons in mental flexibility that matter. Being present in the moment (mindfulness), practicing self-compassion, and a growth mindset (practice makes progress); these help you roll and ride the waves of change, bending so you don’t break ~
Namaste and hang ten ~
