Sailing is slow going and leisurely. ‘Getting there’ involves patience, paying close attention to winds, tides, the mechanics of your boat, weather reports and practicing Be Here Now, fully. It invites you to tuck into a Baie de Tresor (on the east coast of Martinique), or a Ilet de Gosier ( on the east coast of Guadeloupe) and to be here right now in an internet cafe in the sleepy, off season yachting village of Ile Francois at the northeastern tip of Guadeloupe where we’ll do some provisioning and check the weather report before heading north to Antigua tomorrow.
The metaphors are rich for the milking: Anchoring, Setting Sail, Playing it by Ear, Course Adjustment, Keeping Your Boat Afloat and Balancing the need to go with the wind with keeping your destination in mind.
As I learn more about all of these hands on aspects of sailing, I also learn more about my own inner navigational system and find that each of the above also apply to the inner journey on which I find myself.
The more I am able to live in the present moment (The Power of Now) and appreciate the bounty that presents itself today, the more I find myself at amazing anchorages and off the beaten path, surprise bays full of treasure.
Squalls do arrive. There are times to batten down the hatches, breathe, recheck the weather, re-evaluate where you really want to go and decide if you’re going to ride it out or find shelter from the storm. Stormy weather always gives ways to rainbows and sunny skies and you can be sure that blue skies will turn ominous with thunder clouds lining the horizon.
Today I am paying attention, savoring the places in which I find myself inside and out, being patient and loving what is. I plot my course with courage, love, eager anticipation and the absolute certainty that I can’t make a wrong turn and am always making course adjustments. Right here, right now I have arrived at some of the most beautiful destinations imaginable on my outer and inner maps.
Learning as I go, I invite you to bob along on this journey with me so that you can get clearer about your course, discover the hidden treasures along the way and fine tune your own navigational system and so
be guided to your most spectacular places here, now and always.
This is great stuff Coach! Saying YES seems the default as youngsters & eager to move fr one adventure to the next – continuous exploration. But then one day we wake up & find our default became NO. It seems we need to nurture playfulness, curiosity & a sense of adventure. Without this bright eyed, wagging tail keenness, it is surely all too easy to sit down & stay there.
You inspire me to take a leap of faith, say Yes each day & embrace adventure.
I figure someone’s got to do it – and am so grateful that it’s me – to be an inspiration for saying yes, being curious, playing and venturing forth on adventures. There is nothing else to do than take a leap of faith – the same journey can be a boring nose to the grindstone or an exploration of the hidden crannies of our hearts, minds and the most beautiful places on earth. thanks for taking this journey with me – love from Antigua (tonight). xxxAnnie