Chasing Orchid: Balance is Everything

It was absolutely gorgeous. The blue was all around me and here I was skimming the surface of it. I could totally see how some people can get into a meditative state in this situation. Everything was in balance. Balance…it’s so important I thought as I flipped headlong into the sea laughing my ass off.

Let me explain, I took some time out of my schedule of finding housewares and settling into a new place to go hang at the beach. Now don’t get me wrong, I’ve been to the beach quite a few times since I arrived here but this time was different. On this day I was going to learn to windsurf. It was gloriously sunny with just a light breeze, not a good day for die hard windsurfers but for a beginner like me, it was perfect.

I was lucky enough to be next door to a windsurfer who happens to be at the top of his class in his hometown. He was more then happy to take me on my adventure. We rented a beginners board, a sail and all the accoutrements that go alongside. I’ve always had pretty good balance, and I knew that was important, but that didn’t stop me from realizing I was going down into the drink baby!

Let me tell you, balance is so damned different when one is on water. Not only was I standing on a board but the waves kept lapping in, around and under it. I would get my footing and then suddenly poof it was gone…the waves just threw me off. Stability is definitely much tougher in the ocean than on land.

As I was standing there, finally able to grasp the sail and take a short ride, I realized that balance really is everything. If you don’t have balance, one, you’re not going to be able to stay on the board and two, you’re going to get swallowed by the ocean for at least a few seconds. In reality, life is a lot like windsurfing (or even surfing for that matter).

The mantra “go with the flow” really does apply to it all. Life is the ocean. Sometimes it can be calm, beautiful and soothing. At others it can be tempestuous, stormy and stressful. However, if you can learn to “balance” your life you’re more likely to get out of tough situations as unscathed as possible.

Life should be a combination of work, play, happy and sad. For without these contrasts, life wouldn’t be nearly as enjoyable. So just remember, when life threatens to overwhelm you, take a deep breath, remain calm, flow with it and eventually you’ll surface, hopefully no worse for the ride.

As for me *grabs a towel* I’m going to keep on trying, I’ll always end up back in the sea, but trust me I’ll enjoy it every single time.