I woke up about a week ago and knew there had been a shift. The air felt different. There was a stillness that was not there when I went to bed. Out the window the sky looked bigger. And then when I checked the buoy readings I saw that there was south swell in the water. These were the signs of the new season…San Francisco’s Surf Season!
I surfed twice that day and nearly everyday since then. That is an unusual feat these days with a job, wife, 2-year old daughter and a new baby arriving in2-months. It seems that my life aligned effortlessly with the shifting elements. Like just last night I had an awesome sunset surf after a full day of work and family fun. Life’s ability to organize itself never ceases to amaze me.
Waves…the good waves begin far from our place of enjoyment. Far out to sea high winds blow directionally over a large area of water for an extended time(aka. fetch). The ocean feels the wind and begins to react. The surface looks agitated as ripples splash and crash chaotically in the direction of the wind. After some time the winds energy is consumed by the sea and the ripples begin to transform. What was once chaotic becomes organized as invisible bands of energy form just below the surface. All of the bands from one given fetch creates the swell. The higher the winds and the longer their duration …the bigger and more organized the swell. The swell marches almost unnoticed for thousands of miles through the ocean until it reaches the shallower waters of the coast. One by one these bands of energy grow and heave into waves. We then tap into their energy as we surf!
This is all to say that things work themselves out. The waves found their way from the wind. It is the same with the desires for our lives. We may have an idea of what it is we want but don’t know how it will ever or can ever come about. Theory and practice have taught me that life will organize around our intention. Granted, the winds did not intend to make waves. That gives us an advantage…..we can set an intention. Imagine if the winds could choose to create a perfect swell for your local spot at your request! Our future is what we decide….
