3 minutes of calm is worth 3 hours of chaos. That's the thought that came to me last night during my longest stand up paddle to date. First 2hrs was all headwind and annoying choppy water. The second half consisted of a tailwind at least, but still had some confused chop to it which seemed to demand the desire to kick me off my board. That last 10 minutes of glassy calm water after I came around the corner though.......that was something special.
The difference in my body both physically and mentally once the calm finally came was instant. Each breath even more relaxed. My nervous system shifted from guarded too relaxed. Time was no longer important. A smirk was on my face. I felt taller. And awareness skyrocketed from just staying upright, to being able to hear and see fish jump hundreds of meters away, or noticing the sound of the water droplets falling off my paddle and back onto the surface. It was short. But it was amazing.
So essentially, what's the point of enduring the suck if we aren't able to enjoy the reward?
Pay attention to those moments when the calm comes. And relish them no matter how short they may be. No matter if it's the moments after a big physical effort, a shitty call at work, a fight with your partner or kids, whatever they might be.
They're what keep us coming back.
Tips to enjoy the calm even more once you've noticed you're in it:
- breathe low and slow
- shift your gaze to the horizon (zoom out)
- smile
- embrace the feels (Quit ignoring it. Seriously. Enjoy that good feeling!)
Ever had a similar experience? Feel blocked or unable to feel it? Let's chat about it here.
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