A recent quarantine trip landed my Wife and I on an island. We were surrounded by acres of marshland, a channel funneling into the Atlantic Ocean and a beautiful array of wildlife. If it weren’t for an expansive dock, our ability to leave the island would have been completely in the hands of the moon and the Atlantic Ocean. Every six hours our landscape was transformed entirely. It was an immensely humbling reminder of how many aspects of life are out of human control. We were at the mercy of the gravitational pull of the moon and a body of water far more vast than any human can traverse. It was freeing, but only once we harmonized our spirit and life rhythm with it. Natures tidal waves pulled the following ideas out of me.
We Are Small: But the Choices we make are bellowing, they echo far off our individual islands
As humans, it is essential to remain humble. But not too humble as to be blind to the potential and the reach of actions at the individual level. The momentum of a movement, a campaign or a run for a championship can be shifted by the actions of one person. As we live our lives and make decisions about how to spend our time and effort, we must never forget that we could be that difference maker. We could set an example that changes the world in a big way. The noblest cause is the one that you are most fit to act on. The one that hits you deep and resonates with your soul.
Paddling against the tide is exhausting
During our trip we navigated the inland channels and the broader pathway to the ocean in a canoe. At times, we traveled with extreme ease, thus being in harmony with the tidal current. And conversely, sometimes we had to fight the water and push through the current head on, thus out of sync with our environment. This experience reminded me of individuals that have not adapted to the changing social norms related to COVID-19. Or to the changing environment of technological immersion. To connecting with friends, for a few short months, through zoom, Skype or FaceTime rather than in person. To working from home for a short while or for the foreseeable future. To not adapt with these short-term changes in daily life is to paddle against the tide. It makes the experience one of drudgery and of thick churn rather than of nimble redirection. Society at large, and life on earth in general, is fluid and ever-changing. We must be as well, as to not fight against the natural order of life.
Beauty lies in life’s rhythm; the recessions and ascensions reveal both danger and opportunity
On the island we stayed at, the tidal current was so strong that the marshland would almost completely dry up at low tide and be overflown with water at high tide. At low tide, you could see the surface and every creature, blade of long grass or departed carcass was exposed. Similarly, as we partake on our individual journeys there will be times where we are more exposed. Where we put it all out there willingly. Where we may reveal something to the world that we were not ready to share or that we did not choose to share. Or where we boldly stand up for what we believe in openly and proudly, revealing our true self. We can prepare for these periods by living a life of vulnerability, of willingness to express and challenge our own beliefs, and of belief in the beautiful aspects of humanity and life on Earth. On the contrary, as with high tide, periods in our lives will be smooth and at times we will be covered with a blanket of tranquility. At the highest point of the tide, the water in the marshlands was calm and the environment was more peaceful as a result. When we are blessed with this experience in our lives rhythm we should dive inward in search of fulfillment and joy. We should cherish what we have and let gratitude seep into our lives. Those times remind me of childhood, of playing sports and being completely present in the moment, of hiking in the Rocky Mountains, of skiing 10,000 feet up on the Sierra Nevadas, of slowly waking up to birds singing with coffee in hand, of a weekend trip with just my Wife and I and of a simple yet perfect backyard barbecue with family and friends. Being still and being present in the moment is difficult to do, but when it does occur in life do not run from it. Do not rush into the next activity. We do not always need a plan or an outcome, sometimes we should just be.
Action Request:
Use your voice to speak your truths. Paddle with the current. Be aware and act in harmony with your life’s rhythm.