Kayaking is oh so zen. I am loving it.
Today Cowboy was fixing something so I took off on my own down the river - I did some power bursts while I tried to paddle as fast as I could.
It felt amazing especially as I was rolling with the current.
I felt like I was absolutely powering across the river at rapid pace getting rippling muscles with every strain, -- soon I conked out and I had a little lie down on the kayak.
Hello!
How great was this?
Sure, I took up kayaking for exercise - but I discovered that kayaking can double as the ultimate meditation and zoning out experience.
While lying back, I was the only person in the river as far as the eye could see - the sun was absolutely pumping down on me (ripping 40 degree here, my bad but anyway) and I closed my eyes.
I could hear birds, insects, a repetitive bubbly noise of water - distant hum of trucks and... not much else...
The sun was warming me just enough to make me feel refreshed and warm and I drifted.
In every sense of the word.
While I was drifting I actually thought of Kathy from Lessons from the Monk I married's piece that she wrote yesterday about creating space for yourself.
Though I was meant to be paddling with Cowboy (which I love) today it was actually a blessing to be out floating on my own.
And a blessing for the pump that he fixed, but that is another story.
I was present, I was aware - I was relaxed - and as I drifted I was aware that this was my time.
Reality quickly reared its ugly head as I opened my eyes to find myself trapped among the reeds facing in a different direction than I thought I was in.
I was completely disorientated, a little dizzy, but somehow revived.
I have come to the conclusion that drifting in the yak is the new black.
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oh, that looks absolutely blissful Sharni!
ReplyDeleteLove it.
ReplyDeleteI also think it's about learning how to have fun again now that you are a...grown up...
Hate to say it, but it's true! I'm only just figuring out that I can have fun and be silly without the kids. It's great.
Wow Sharni...YOU ARE AN AMAZING WOMAN! I showed my husband, the monk, a picture of you floating down the river...I could feel that you were aware, that you were creating space, that you were living the lesson I wrote about the other day. Not to many people can do that. I wish I could copy this picture of you and post it on my blog...it so fits what I was talking about. Your picture inspired me, so I'm going to go down to Puget Sound and walk along the water today and just "be". Love to you ^_^!
ReplyDeleteThat it is, Sharni! That it is! Nothing better than a few hours in the kayak! Think I might take mine out tonight.
ReplyDeleteThis sounds blissful and so....well, indescribable. A place to be mindful of oneself. Which is a luxury I wish I afforded myself more often. Take it when and where you can and own it!
ReplyDeleteAlso, how in the heck did you take this picture?!
Fantastic blog!
ReplyDeleteLoving the read.
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www.eboniesmummy.blogspot.com
Great post Sharni, and great blog from what I've seen. I just discovered you through the aforementioned 'Lessons From the Monk I Married' blog. It's so true how much we need space - I created a lot for myself over Christmas (I banned myself from being too productive!) and it resulted in a complete revival of energy and positivity for this year. One thing I take from this though is that it's not all about creating space, but also about being open to noticing it's always there if we just choose to take it.
ReplyDeleteI think I need a kayak!!
ReplyDeleteOff to read the linked post from 'Lessons from the Monk I Married'. Sounds like just what I need - space for me...
H