The Wave That Awakens

It's not uncommon for a new paddler on a surfski to be unsure about how successful they are at catching a wave.

While there are a few ways to gain this understanding, my favorite is not a technique - it’s a sound from the surfski.

To imagine this sound, think of the last bit of water in a bathtub going into the drain - that low to high pitch sound that the water makes during the final few seconds.

Similarly, as you catch a Wave on the surfski and acquire Free Energy, the increase in speed quickly drains any remaining water from the boat, which makes a distinctive sound like this:

Sluuuurrrrpppp!

This is one of the most beautiful sounds to hear when at sea.

— — — —

“I look at the photos and of course the landscape is beautiful,” he explains.

“But they just don’t capture the aliveness I was feeling in the moment.”

That second line stops me… and moves me.

"The aliveness I was feeling in the moment."

If this feeling has a sound, it sounds like this:

Sluuuurrrrpppp!

— — — —

More than 10 years into this style of writing, I often wonder about its impact on readers. On you. Your pursuits. Your resistance. Your growth.

The quote above was from Randy, a Thinking In Waves reader from Day 1, longtime advocate for my writing, fellow adventurer, and friend. He shared these words during our conversation last week - a conversation about gratitude, goals, and generosity that started in 2017 and continues today.

What exactly did Randy's photos miss?

All of the:

Planning

Preparation

Incremental progress

Patience

Small details and

Connection

That framed his three-week, 600-mile bicyle journey around southern Spain

Completed recently

Solo

At 67 years old.

Like the beautiful photos, to focus on the finish line would miss something.

The aliveness that brings an intense feeling to the moment,

Which opens the path to the better version of yourself that you are becoming,

Clearly signaling that you are surfing your own spectacular Life Wave -

Sluuuurrrrpppp!

— — — —

From a small step towards a new project

Or a grand adventure,

Notice what

Moves

Excites

Challenges

Changes and

Awakens

The Wave of Aliveness.

Don't search for it..

Simply follow it.

And listen for

Sluuuurrrrpppp!

With gratitude, Joe

PS - A fun connecting point between Randy's route and these essays is that Randy cycled through town of Tarifa, our favorite place in the world to surf waves and the home of our surfski coach, Boyan, whose philosophy about surfing is the foundation of Thinking In Waves. While in Tarifa, Randy ventured out to the point where the Atlantic and Mediterranean come together, a beautiful spot from which to watch some amazing kitesurfers.

I am grateful to all of you who apply even the smallest pieces of Thinking In Waves to your pursuits growth, connection, and aliveness. In that spirit, I'm sharing a favorite photo from Randy's album here:

Follow Your Flow, Achieve Impacting Wins, & Ride Spectacular Life Waves

Ready to position the art of surfing waves as a process for deep reflection and meaningful life transitions? 

Subscribe to Thinking In Waves, my short weekly essay about the lessons and experiences that I learn surfing offshore waves on a surfski kayak transferred to an innovative model for clear thinking and better choices <— Short, fun, and memorable - new riders are always welcome!