Lake Lesson 3

Early morning on my paddle board. It was choppy so I simply sat down and paddled toward the sun. The huge, undulating dark waves underneath me were unnerving. To calm myself, I sang made-up songs nice and loud to an audience of just the Lake. I laughed -  it was fun, not frightening. I sang for a long time. I was a small dark speck on a big orange empty lake. No boats yet, no wave runners yet. Thin clouds caught the sun and made a square rainbow. A bird flew by, caught a fish, dropped it and swooped back three times to re-fetch it. The ruthless waves bashed into my board and body the whole way out to the open. I directed myself into them.

My goal was to get far enough to reach a buoy in the distance that said Hazard. I reached my arm out, hugged it and held on. After a time, it was a struggle - the waves just kept coming and repeatedly opposed my agenda to pause my adventure. I held on. The waves had their own purpose - they wanted me to go with them, but I held on. I thought to myself, “This is what it’s like to hold onto something.” I felt safe and secure knowing I was anchored to one place and could rest for a moment. I knew this buoy, but I certainly wasn’t going anywhere. The Lake kept nudging me to go. Go forward, go with the flow. Time keeps moving, the universe has a plan and is in motion for everyone and everything. I felt like I was being battered now by the waves. What felt like ‘safety’ and what I thought would be rest, didn’t feel comfortable anymore… I simply released my tensed arm from the buoy and instantly started moving, and fast. I didn’t have to paddle. I was in the good hands of nature, taking me along swiftly. I felt such peace. I didn’t have to work or struggle at getting anywhere. I wasn’t anywhere but right there. No destination, I didn’t need to worry about that. I looked back. The hazard buoy was still there but small now… I traveled a great distance, go figure… by letting go and letting the waves take me. I smiled to my self. I felt such peace - this is the way it should be. Life. Not a struggle, just trust and peace. It’s okay to float along.

There is always forward movement, I just needed to release my own tension and control and let my self go. I felt good. Such peace. After a time, I looked back again. I scanned the sparkling lake to see if I could make out the buoy, but I couldn’t see it at all. I was somewhere else entirely. Why look back? I supposed to see how far I’d come. There were all new things in front of me. New birds, new landscape, I could see the pedestrians on the shore stopping to let their dogs meet, I could see boats leaving the marina. Strips of seaweed washed up onto my board. A black cormorant flew close to the surface of the lake in front of me. My body was buzzing, I felt so calm. So calm and content. The waves were my allies. The waves are nothing to be feared, there is wisdom in nature, and I am part of that - not separate. Nature takes care of nature. Trust it, not my own agendas.

I can paddle against the waves, hang on or I can let go and receive new scenery, new experiences.  Thank you, Lake. Thank you. 


Beauty Is Everywhere

- Holly