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Land Surfing the Waves of Life
Life
and waves are a lot alike. Surfing is more than riding
along on the crest of an ocean wave. It can also be
a state of mind. In a sense we are all surfers in the
ocean of life. You can take the surfer out of the ocean
but you can't take the ocean out of the surfer. Is there
a way certain surfers are able to look into the future?
Can some surfers see what appears invisible? Is there
a way to avoid getting caught off guard by life's surprising
outside waves? Perhaps taking a closer look at waves
and the surfers who ride them will offer some answers
to these intriguing questions and more. Experienced
surfers use foresight, practice being highly aware,
and remain vigilant, enabling them to see waves coming
well in advance. Educators and physiologists have concluded
that the art of surfing has benefits for more than physical
health. Regular surfing expands and advances spatial
intelligence while remarkably in the same moment dramatically
increasing self-awareness in real terms. Foresight,
awareness and vigilance are traits that everyone has
to one degree or another.
Three surfers were having a great time waiting together
for some waves. When it came to positioning themselves
for the waves, the first and second surfers chose to
lineup off of the third and most experienced surfer.
The third surfer had carefully selected his spot based
on "invisible" ocean maps, the left over sea
foam from previous breaking waves sometimes referred
to as bubble lines. The bubbles were there for everyone
to see but the others didn't know their value and never
took notice.
The first surfer expertly judged the swells as they
rolled by. He was looking for the right wave to catch
that would give him a nice long ride. With a little
luck he was hoping a good wave would come right to him.
Slightly impatient when a series of waves came in he
would always go for the very first wave.
The second surfer was a little more experienced. Never
catching the first wave in a set he would use the rhythmic
rise and fall of the tide and waves to his advantage.
As he floated up with the swell he would look out to
see the following on coming waves. He would try to choose
which wave was best and where would be the best position
to catch it. Because of the rapid rise and fall of the
waves he had to make swift calculations and did not
take the time to look further out.
The third and most experienced surfer sat slightly further
out than the others. He used the rise and fall of swells
to his advantage also. Watching the waves as they went
by, he was able to see how they were breaking and which
direction they were going. When the swell floated him
up he would look not just at the following waves but
also far out to the horizon seeing waves well before
they came.
A large series of on coming waves started to come in.
The first surfer though slightly out of position started
paddling as hard as he could for the lead wave. Alas,
he missed it. The poor first surfer was caught inside
by the following waves, pounded, churned and spun like
a washing machine all the way in. Fortunately, just
as he was out of breath he, thankfully, washed up to
shore. He was lucky to survive although his surfboard
didn't, it had been broken in three places. He never
saw the waves coming.
To the relief of the second surfer he made it over the
first wave only to see the following waves were much
larger and further out than he had anticipated. Unfortunately
for him he was out of position to catch the next wave.
He tried with all his will and might to make it over
the on-coming waves. Alas, the following wave broke
right on top of the second surfer consuming him in an
explosion of white water. Violently tossed and turned
he was washed half way in before coming up for air.
His surfboard ended up cracked in half. He saw the waves
coming but not in time. Sitting in perfect position
the third surfer caught the wave of the day and expertly
surfed it all the way in where he stepped off on the
shore with out ever having gotten his hair wet. Putting
his pristine surfboard under his arm he made his way
up the beach to join the others who were now all safe
on shore.
The
third surfer was prepared ahead of time because he had
the foresight to be aware and remained vigilant. He
saw the waves coming well ahead of time thus effectively
seeing the future. Possibly, you have heard it said,
"Surfers are one with the waves." Land surfers
should be at one with the world. Count on the waves
of life to keep on coming, don't let them catch you
by surprise. Learn to think ahead by looking around
at waves passing by, where they are coming from and
where they are going.
The best way to be prepared for the waves life sends
our way is to have foresight, be aware and remain vigilant.
If you don't see waves coming ahead of time you just
might get caught by them. If you do see waves in advance
you will be prepared to catch the ride of your life!
Sea you in the surf.
The Willis Bros. are surfing experts recognized for
surfing the worlds largest waves and teaching thousands
in Hawaii and California to surf.
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