Sailing

Recently a friend asked if I’d like to take a sailing class with her. Of course, I said yes because there aren’t too many things I say no to unless it involves swimming with sharks or jumping from high places. Sailing seemed easy compared to those two. I hadn’t given it much thought. 😳

Last night was our first class. The wind was present, but calm, and so was the water. We began at the chalkboard where I was introduced to an entirely new vocabulary. Easy enough. I am good at memorizing. There were diagrams and models of boats and we even sat in one on dry land to get the feel for it.

Then we launched. And it was terrifying. On the water, I realized I was out of my element. Since it was my first time in the sailboat I had very little idea what I was doing except what I had learned on the chalkboard. I watched half the class capsize. (Don’t worry. The water was two feet deep.) Somehow I managed to stay upright, but my heart was beating faster than I ever remember it doing so!

I wanted to get out of the water, but I was many yards from the dock, and no matter what I did, I could not get any closer. So. I just stopped. I stopped trying, and I drifted to a shallow part of the river near shore where I got stuck in the mud. What a relief!

Once I stopped, I could watch the others struggling to get back in their boats. But I felt calm. I watched a momma duck with her three babies paddle gently by my boat. I saw a heron overhead. The breeze felt lovely when I was stationary. The clouds were amazing, and because there were so many rescues happening with the other sailors, I was able to receive the gift of a sunset! Finally, I was rescued by my instructor who was 1/3 my age! He was sweet and earnest and assured me I was doing great! An angel!

What a joy it is to be able to let go and receive the gifts of the present moment. I am a very big fan of being stuck in mud in a sailboat now! 

What is my point? I guess it is to relax and receive. Stop struggling. Stop trying and just let your practice unfold. It will be different every time, and there will be times you feel inadequate. So just stop. Sit still. Be in the mud. And enjoy it.