My soul feels completely rejuvenated when I am on the water. At this point in my life, that consists largely of outrigger canoe paddling off the coast of Kauai. Our club paddles out of a little harbor on the south shore, which means that much of the time, we are in choppy ocean swells. While I love the peaceful synchronicity of flat water, and being able to work on technique while feeling the boat come together, I also love the rough days, when I will have to work not only to propel the canoe forward, but also to keep my body braced and centered through the power of the waves. Every practice is training to compete, pushing our bodies to give us more, with the aim of having nothing left at the end. This is the hard work I can get behind - work with meaning, a shared dedication to a goal, and one that is filled with joy alongside the effort.
Many paddlers love their single-person canoes, which allow you to feel the surf and go at your own pace. I personally love the OC-6, where six people blend together in a combination of power and grace. There is an additional elation I feel when everyone is in synch and you can feel the boat lift up out of the water and glide forward. Each person brings their own strengths and weaknesses, and we adjust our strokes to find the length and pace that work for that particular crew on that particular day. Some days we divide by gender or level of experience, but many days we are in mixed boats to be able to evenly race one another, which means a true diversity of paddlers.
The water is - thankfully - always warm, though there are days when the air feels cold, but nothing that a higher heart rate can’t fix. On the rough days, waves will crash over the gunwales, soaking us to the skin and necessitating bailing in between pieces of the workout. I do wonder if I woud be able to love it as much if I paddled in a cold weather place, but feel I can give more of myself to the boat when I am not fighting to get warm.
As we push ourselves physically, our attention is in our boat, but it is impossible to completely tune out the incredible beauty of the ocean, of the sunlight igniting it into sparkles, or a rain cloud giving it layers of depth. The coastline and distant mountains are a lovely frame, but my favorite focus is the tip of the bow dipping into and out of the waves, with a setting sun in the distance. I reach to feel the water meet my blade, and feel entirely connected to the sea and the wind- I have experienced little else that makes me feel such a part of the elements.
I am a huge proponent of shifting the paradigm of the grind, and the exaltation of working hard, and the idea that in order to be successful, one must work themselves to the bone. Many of us have been raised to feel not enough unless we are overworked and doing it all, encouraged to suffer for “success”, terrified of being “lazy.” I believe instead that we should embrace rest, give ourselves grace, and find harmonious balance that increases our health - that we need to sleep enough, eat well, have significant time to connect with our loved ones and our community, and to play more in order to grow naturally.
The other day, as I braced my body to keep the power in my stroke coming down on the backside of a wave, my heart rate high, my lungs and muscles burning from the race pace, sweat and seawater filling my eyes and mouth, knowing that my entire body would be sore the next day, I wondered why I was willing to do this - did it not seem the antithesis to what I have been thinking and writing and posting about? Isn’t this hard work, giving everything I have to the push, the effort, the win?
I realized that my years of being a competitive athlete actually give me the model of the type of life I promote. If we look at athletes that are training, they push themselves hard as they practice and play, devoting and dedicating themselves to a sport they love. AND they know the importance of rest and recovery. As an athlete, you need different workouts of different intensities, all based on a cycle of goals. To truly succeed, you need ample sleep, to balance resting your muscles with working them, to taper before a competition, to nurture yourself with nutritious food. Team sports require communication, connection, and a shared belief. In order to excel, you must desire it in your heart and soul, and you must listen to your body. You must NOT overwork.
Couldn’t we use this as a model for life? To choose our work in the same way we might choose a sport? To give it our all during practice and competitions, and to ensure our well-being outside of those times, making sure we rest in order to maximize our ability? To care for our minds, bodies, and souls in ways that are nurturing and rejuvenating? Could we deconstruct and redefine the idea of being lazy, and embrace it for the times when we have just finished giving our all to something, and can savor sinking into the couch with a book or lying on a blanket in the grass with a friend, or relishing every bite of that post-workout meal? I think we’d be in a much better world if we did.
Live like an athlete: Work for something that lights you up. Ensure that play is a significant part of your life. Prioritize rest and replenishment. Connect with your team. Find your balance.