My life is full of metaphors
parables
meaning.
Perhaps that is just the way I see it.
Believing.
But how we see it
Us
Them
Is really all there is
And I am deeply in love with this feeling.
When I’m on the coast
I go ocean swimming
and if there was ever a metaphor
for how to live
it is this.
To get out there – to peace
You first have to crash through the breaking waves
Some days they are big
Huge
“Dive deep” said the woman in the Wonder Woman cap on my first day
So that’s what I did
The second day
I bought flippers for my feet
to make my kick more powerful,
in case we are caught in a rip on the way back in.
Once through the breakers, we swim
far
out to where the ocean rolls gently and full
deep.
Not crashing,
just rocking.
Out where most people go in a boat
we make our shoulders carry us.
Once we are way out (lined up with two trees on the second point)
We bob about waiting for the whole group to catch up
Float
Chat
Laugh
And then whoever wants to
departs
to swim further on
to the point.
Or you can go back in
If you want
Some do
I swim to the point
because I’m not ready to return
just yet
Body rolling gently
Lungs contracting expanding
The sunlight gleaming through the water droplets of my lifted arm
Splashing down
Up
Down
I fall into the lullaby sound.
I could do this forever
And then it’s time to turn around
Return to shore
And now the breakers come behind you
So you have to watch out
One eye over your shoulder
Or you’ll be somersaulting
And that’s fun too
Eventually the water changes
I see the sand coming up to meet me
Half a dozen fishes darting
My feet hit the bottom
I remove my fins
Walk in
Out of the waves
Back to beached humanity with no idea
what it’s like to swim
out there
Peace upon my face
Peace upon my heart
Peace in the soles of my sandy feet
Peace in my aching shoulders
Peace in my mind
Peace
Everywhere
My life is a metaphor
A parable
Every moment teaching me
And I’m open to it
Whatever it has to tell me
I’ll just go with it
*I only began ocean swimming at Christmas time while on holidays. I’ve always loved body surfing but occasionally I would see these swimmers coming in from “out there”. Their faces serene. One morning I met a lady in the surf and got chatting. She was one of these swimmers and told me to meet up the next morning under the tower. I did.
The rest is history, now I’m an addict.
Steve took the video below of my first swim so many months ago, I look at it now and smile. It’s in my jar of lightning bugs. I take it out once in awhile.
A truly lovely reflection and sharing, Kate <3
~David
Thanks David 🙏💕
Everyday the waves crash onto my body. Getting through to the peaceful calm I energize for the next day. Thank you.
My pleasure. And you made me aware of something with your comment – we think of peace as being a stationary space but actually it is, as you say, energising. Very energising. Have a beautiful day
“z” I frequently get it incorrect : ).
Enjoying your posts. Thank you.
Great 😊
The “z” is an “s” where I spell from (Australians use the British spelling of words rather than the American) is that what you meant? Sorry I only just cottoned on to what the “z” in your comment referred to. 😊 we have quite a few words like that.
That is good to know. I never was good at spelling and now I can say I got it right. TY. Enjoying your posts. All the best
Oh yes, “it is this!” So beautiful Kate, your poem gave me chill bumps! 💗
❤️💫 life is a ride for sure Michelle. This was the week-end and now I’m living off the memory back at work and shuffling paperwork 😊
Yes, it is! A wonderful memory to carry forward. 💞
Thank goodness your orcas are chasing away all of your sharks. I can’t go out deep. It freaks me out.
Sharks are around for sure Jeff. We all wear sharkbanz around our ankles which a few of the veterans swear by as they have seen them work. It’s a device which emits a magnetic pulse. I put all that out of my mind and just go because if I started thinking about all that could go wrong then I wouldn’t – and then I would really miss out on a beautiful experience. This squad have been swimming out and to the points for years and nothing has occurred so, I guess I take comfort in the stats.