Embracing the Waves: A Life Lesson from the Ocean
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Chapter 1: The Beach Encounter
It often turns out that fleeing from fear can exacerbate the situation.
One sunny afternoon in Cancun, Mexico, my fiancée, Zel, and I finally decided to take a plunge into the inviting blue gulf after a leisurely day on the beach. The sun blazed overhead, but the water was surprisingly cooler than the drink in my hand. Not to forget, it was a red flag day, indicating that swimming was risky and meant for strong swimmers only.
As we cautiously made our way into the water, the waves splashed against our bodies, gradually acclimating us to the chill. Eventually, we found ourselves waist-deep, and to our surprise, the water felt warm now. We began swimming, skillfully navigating the 5-foot swells rolling towards the shore. Every twenty seconds, a new one approached, and I kept an eye on them to time my movements effectively.
The Challenge
Suddenly, I spotted a massive swell approaching from afar—this one looked colossal, possibly 8 feet high! I swam towards it swiftly, eager to catch it before it broke. As it passed beneath me, I flipped over to backstroke.
Glancing up, I noticed Zel swimming back to the shore. The once-mighty swell morphed into a 5-foot wave that crashed right atop her.
"SMACK!"
We were now separated by about 10 yards (9.14 meters for my international friends), and I couldn't suppress my laughter as I checked if she was alright. With a thumbs-up from her, I gestured for her to come towards me.
However, the next swell arrived almost instantly. This time, it was a mere 5 feet, yet she turned to swim away again. The 5-foot swell quickly diminished to a 3-foot wave, crashing down on her once more.
"SMACK!"
Frustrated, Zel decided to retreat to the shore where she could simply watch me swim. But the ocean had other plans. A 2-foot wave slammed directly into her face!
Another wave followed swiftly after she recovered...
"SMACK!"
She attempted to stand, but it was too late.
"2-foot wave, SMACK! Woman down!"
At this point, I couldn't contain my laughter any longer.
"SMACK!"
I could only imagine how my laundry feels! (Karma strikes back.)
After spitting out the salty water, I made my way toward her, ready to guide her out of the tumultuous breaking zone, where the swells turn into crashing waves.
"Hold onto my shoulder while I swim," I advised her. Just then, another wave surged towards us. We both dove underwater to let it pass, but as we resurfaced...
"SMACK!"
A sneaky wave had been lurking behind the first one.
The Insight
We both chuckled as I continued to swim. Finally, we had returned to a safe spot. I shared some advice with her: "When the wave approaches, jump into it."
She looked at me puzzled but remained silent.
"Seriously, just leap into the waves and swim over the swells. Trust me," I encouraged her confidently.
After a few attempts, she finally managed to grasp the technique. Then, she expressed a realization that struck me deeply:
"I don't know why I kept swimming away; this is so much easier! I feel so silly now," she laughed, reflecting on her experience.
The Realization
This moment hit me like a freight train:
"Why do we persist in running from our fears when it only makes us miserable? Should I write about this?" I wondered aloud.
"Absolutely! And don't forget to include this experience!" she eagerly replied.
You can thank her for inspiring this story; I initially intended to leave it out.
Chapter 2: Reflections from the Shore
Here we are, reflecting on what we learned that day.
A beach has various zones, each with its own characteristics. The Surf Zone is where waves crash with force. The Breaker Zone is where swells transform into waves. Finally, the Transition Zone is where swells grow larger.
The ocean floor's angle and the energy of the waves define these zones. In our case, the beach had a relatively gentle slope, keeping the zones close together. Zel found herself stuck in the surf zone, where the powerful waves relentlessly pushed water towards the shore, while I floated peacefully in the transition zone, effortlessly riding the swells.
Life Lessons
Big swells may appear intimidating, but they often don't pose much danger. The real impact comes from the waves, which crash just a few feet from the shore.
This mirrors how our fears often present themselves. They seem overwhelming, yet with a little strategy, we can easily overcome them. Evading our fears only prolongs our challenges, causing them to weigh us down. Life won't pause; it will continue to send us waves until the end.
It's far better to confront our fears directly, as they usually aren't as daunting as we initially perceive.
Now, I invite you to share your experiences! Have you faced a challenge that seemed insurmountable, only to discover that confronting it was easier than expected? Your stories may inspire others to face their own challenges head-on.
Thank you for reading!