Life is Sailing

I recently received a compliment about a skill I have been working to develop. This skill happens to be a passion of mine, a soul-satisfying, life-giving enjoyment. Could it be sailing? Why, yes, of course it is sailing. A new friend of mine shared how she felt more empowered in her own skills after we sailed together. She was a great teammate, and I think we worked really well together. She echoed words I shared with my husband about how enlightening it was to sail a small boat with crew. It provides clean perspectives about sail theory that transfer beautifully to sailing larger boats.

Beyond this compliment, I also received an invitation to skipper a large boat for an upcoming regatta. That made me feel very special indeed! I was reassured that I would never be skippering by myself and would have a guiding voice constantly by my side throughout the race. I felt built up and confident, thinking it would be quite achievable to steer the boat on the chosen course. Without saying yes, for a few logistical reasons, I thanked the boat owner and asked for a little time to consider what my schedule looked like.

After all this, I headed over to a women’s sailing training night. We were to sail on a Pearson Flyer. There were six women, two of which were quite experienced and three of which appeared to be much newer to the journey in sailing. It was a beautiful, slightly warm evening. We were surrounded by sunlight, calm waters, and tender dolphin companions. The perfect evening to learn.

And learn I did. I had the opportunity to work the crank for the jib trimmer and then manage the jib myself. I made enough mistakes in the sequencing of things to humbly admit it is a good thing this was a training night. Our instructor kindly led us through the “hows” and the “whys”. I excelled in some areas and needed reminders or instruction for others. Even the people newer to sailing sometimes knew where a line needed to attach to the bow before I figured it out. I loved that nudge that I am not that special. We all are learning in some capacity. We all make mistakes.

A former sailing instructor, who knew so much about sailing theory and trim, made the encouraging observation that even he gets mixed up with knots at times. Our sailing instructor tonight confused herself about how to tie a bowline the other day, even though she’s been tying bowlines for decades. These things happen. We have mind blocks. Our brains get tired or overtaxed. It’s not the end of the world.

So I’m still learning. Despite compliments and the flattery of being asked to skipper, I’m not really all that special… and that is a good thing. I get to work on humbly continuing to grow and learn – with the best of them.