Perspective, living at my edge and being with the Ebb and Flow
As he accelerated pulling my car from the claylike mud, my tow hitch cannonballed out of its anchor point. My wife and both my daughters were in his car and it was a projectile.
It stayed low to the ground rather than launching itself through the air.
A few weeks earlier, a concretor at our building site told me about a mate of his. They had been attempting to release a vehicle that was bogged. A chain snapped and went careeing through the back window. It pulverised his head killing him instantly.
That story was front of mind as I looked at the tow hitch on the ground, knowing what could have been.
It was a moment of perspective.
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My collectible Lancruiser 60 series well and truly bogged in the Noosa state forest (front bull bar completely covered) - Nov 2024 |
A few minutes beforehand I had been giving myself a really tough time for having become bogged in the first place. Off road with my daughter, no recovery equipment whatsoever and playing silly buggers on the track.
When I became bogged I gave myself a really hard time. It was irresponsible for so many reasons including being late in the day.
I had phone reception - that was the lifeline.
And I had my mate Tim, always my benevolent rescuer, way more practised at these things then I am and always available.
And here I was now, with my family, in fading sunlight, being rescued and everyone and everything was intact. And it could have looked so different. That projectile could have flown through the air with devastating consequences. I thought about that over and over again that same night.
And being so angry with myself just those few hours earlier seemed ludicrous and irrelevant in the context of what could have been.
I resolved to return to the same area a few days later (Harry’s Hut), this time on my own and with my kayak.
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Getting set for my adventure - kayak in background |
In the world of the Pillars and the practise this was an enricher day.
In Deida and mens circle work, living at my edge
And in the current vernacular “a self care day“
The goal was to four wheel drive to Harrys Hut and then launch the kayak there and travel North through the everglades.
The weather was perfect for it and I had the everglades all to myself, not another human being around.
I know that I was safe and that very little could go wrong but being on my own, on the water, in a craft that I am still getting used to in an area that i don’t know at all, felt edgy.
It also felt like my happy place.
A place and space to recalibrate, recharge, reflect and experience.
And an opportunity to be in and with the ebb and flow.
Being with the ebb and flow, understanding that it fundamental to lifes design is for me, one of the key components in cultivating capacity.
Capacity is central to how we respond to any and all situations and stimulus.
The process is holding and then responding in a manner that is appropriate, aligned and in integrity.
And fundamental to all of that is keeping it all in perspective.
Aho