Caught Inside

I'm paddling into one of the biggest waves of my life right now. A huge wave which looks to "close-out" a 13 year marriage relationship. Its definitely one of those times when there is no where to run, no where to hide.

My body and mind race with the same intensity and emotion that arises when a big wave sneaks up on you. You know there's nothing to do but take it on the head, and just surrender to "what is." But while you await your fate, your head just keeps searching for ways to try to escape. The wait fortunately is not long. Mercy is swift, and more often than not, the fear and panic that arises is far worse than the actual experience.

As unusual as it sounds, I've been training for this moment, conditioning myself to be able to "let go" of that which I so unthinkingly cling to tightly. My identity is so intertwined with this relationship. It has been something very real, a deeply transformative journey, but is this the end?

Nothing else to do but take a deep breath, dive as deep as I can and relax into the turbulance and appreciate the power and violent awakening that spells the death of one cycle of wave energy, while opening the way for a new "life surfing" experience.

Kelly Slater: A Great Surfer, A Great Human Being

I read a interesting Interview with Kelly Slater at SurferMag.com this morning.
http://surfermag.com/magazine/archivedissues/kelly-slater-profile-surfer-magazine/index.html

The guy is just captivating because he embodies Greatness, the commitment to living in full alignment with your gifts and talents as a human being... that is what certainly draws us to athletes and entertainers like Kelly Slater, Michael Phelps, Tiger Woods, Ali, Marley, Hendrix dare I say Oprah! They "show up" on their respective stages, completely vulnerable to whatever happens in that moment. They have prepared so completely and are so determined and focused to be the best they can be that it tips the scales in their favor. Guys like Kelly know themselves better than most of us dare try. They know their edge, that ultimately there are no limits other than those we impose upon ourselves, so constantly re-inventing, re-envisioning what is possible and stepping out onto the stage to see what happens may be human being-ness at its highest.

The ironic thing is that Power is neutral. Being fully committed to manifesting a vision or goal is extremely potent, almost seductive. History is riddled with individuals have done great and horrible things because of their commitment to as Ghandi said, "Be the change you want to be." Power responds to intention and commitment independent of ideology or morality. Collective consciousness follows the grooves formed in possibility, just as water follows its descending and eroded path to the sea. Just because you can do something, doesn't always mean you should. Our charge is to follow our sense of highest right, knowing at some level that the individual and collective are not ultimately in at odds and ever-revising stories and retro-fitting our foundations as we journey on.