As you get older, you start to realize that life has its ebbs and flows, much like the sea. When the seas are calm and everything is going well, it is easy to be happy and friendly. When the seas become rough and dangerous, and life deals you some nasty blows, it changes your perspective.
This blog is about my experience with surfing. Those who know me well will say I am not a hardcore surfer, as I prefer a longboard and chilled waves. For a guy who comes from the middle of Africa and only started learning to surf in my early thirties, I am happy to take criticism. But here is what I’ve learned about surfing.
Being Present in the Moment
When I am running, cycling, in the gym pumping weights, or in a Pilates class, I can think about my work, my family, and life in general. When I did yoga, my instructor would always say: “Stay on the mat!” That means don’t think about what you are going to do at work—focus on what you are doing now.
When it comes to surfing, you have no other choice but to be in the moment. That is why I love the sport so much: I could be out for two hours and never think about anything else except surfing.
1) Waiting for the Right Wave
You don’t just take the first wave that comes your way—you try to pick the best one. This takes patience and good decision-making. Sometimes the best wave comes, and somebody is already on it, so you have to back out. This teaches patience and manners.
When I do take a wave, I ride it as far as possible, even though I know it will be a long paddle back. In life, when opportunity comes, we need to be ready and take full advantage of it.
2) Reading the Ocean
If you want to catch a great wave, you have to be in the correct spot. If you are lying in the wrong area, you will never catch a good wave. This has taught me that we must put ourselves in the right places in life for opportunities to come our way.
That often takes courage, because the chances of getting injured on a wave increase when you sit in the perfect spot. That is no different in life: we have to take some risks to reap rewards. The greater the risk, the sweeter the success.
3) Wiping Out
In surfing, wiping out is part of the sport. Yet we go back every single time to get that awesome feeling of riding a wave. We all wipe out in life as well, but often these wipeouts erode our confidence and make us more cautious about the next opportunity.
My Wish for You
My wish for everyone reading this is that you will have the courage to position yourself in the right place in life where opportunities can come your way. My next wish is that you will take those opportunities with both hands and ride the wave as far as possible, with the joy that surfing brings to my heart.
GET IN TOUCH
If you would like to get in touch with me about my key note presentation, Debunking Motivation, please send an email to corne@cornekrige.com. Visit my website to review my speaker sheet for more info. I also share my story on my social media pages on Facebook and LinkedIn.