Tides.
As the moon waxes and wanes, the tides rise and fall. As the earth dances between moon cycles, the tides either reveal or cover up much of the sea floor in which it occupies. This synchronicity, though very simple, is also a reflection of the universe in which we transverse (what goes up comes down, what goes out comes back in). Much of the sea life we are exposed to resides on shore, and much of that sea life is incredibly dependent on the ocean to provide it with sustenance. There are two periods every month the tide swings are at their peak. The moon’s gravity, as it cycles around Earth, varies in coalition with the sun. At its peak the moon is either fully present, or entirely absent, resulting in tide swings that dramatically alter the landscape for the inhabitants. Often the exchange of tides brings upon a key of uncertainty, because spaces that were once sheltered are often left vulnerable and exposed to a new array of elements. Within this period you’ll often see the clever ways sea life has evolved to protect itself from said elements. On the flip side, the massive tide swings also bring opportunities that may not have been exposed before. Often leaving food more readily available for those who don’t normally have access to these more sheltered areas.
Our lives operate similar to the push and pull of the tides. We are a unique species, because we experience both situations in which we either adapt, or take advantage of. There are moments in time when the tide is getting pulled out to sea, and what is revealed are intricate places within us that are completely exposed. Often leaving us feeling helpless, anxious, embarrassed, etc. When the tide exposes those spaces which are often covered up, it’s an amazing time to learn to adapt and confront.
For example, I played an incredible amount of soccer growing up. Oftentimes, the more competitive the environment, the more hostile and jealous other players became (including myself). The easiest way for people to confront you is to talk, often highlighting weaknesses in your game, and often hitting the nail on the head. Leaving me feeling absolutely insecure about my ability to play at the level required of me at the time. Resulting in bad performances, and a loss of confidence which carried over into life outside of sport. The easiest thing for me to do was retire my cleats, never touch a soccer ball again, and move into something that was easier for me to handle mentally. The hardest thing to do was confront the harsh truths, and learn to have humility. In doing so, instead of writing myself excuses, I just started implementing things that the coaches, players, or my parents were telling me I should work on.
Ultimately it leads to opportunities where you can start to take advantage. In situations where I was most vulnerable (big coaches or other amazing players watching my games), some of my best performances were when I had a chip on my shoulder. I wanted to prove to everyone else around me why I deserved to be where I was. Without the exposure of the fully rescinded tide, I would not have been able to progress as a player or as a person.
The most important time is not when the tides are at their peak, but the time in between. There’s still a swing, but it’s not as dramatic, and it’s much more manageable. Often in these situations, you are confronted with the knowledge that these periods will return, and you can either better your situation by finding new shelter or preparing yourself internally/externally. I believe our decisions that really alter the trajectory of our life are made at these precipitous moments. They often happen right as they need to, maybe not as predictable as the tides, but often lead to tremendous amounts of growth. The beautiful aspect of the tides is that no matter how intense the swing is, there will always be a correction. There will always be a period in which you have time to settle back down, and figure yourself out. As we traverse this constant cycle of tides, we often end up washing up somewhere right where we are supposed to be. The ultimate trajectory being we go through enough lessons to finally let us forgive ourselves, find peace within thyself, and to live in the present moment. Like the tides have been telling us to do.
Thanks for reading.
With love,
Kai
Weekly Poem:
You will be happy in any part of the world,
And wherever you go,
People will welcome you,
And others will miss you.
~ Jared Treichler
