I did not know that pulling up a website to write something could be so challenging. Days, weeks, has it been a month? When I began this challenge, my children were in school. Now a few of them are schooling at home. Even though they do much of their work on their own, I find my life much busier than before. This actually makes me grateful for this writing challenge even more. Despite the activity of life with a husband and children, there is still always a reason to pull up my notes and write some thoughts. Three hundred sixty-five days of writing continues. So here I begin catching up (again)… more posts to follow.
Life is Sailing
A place of life exploration, sailing journeys, and piece of thought
recent posts
about
-
-
Calling in maintenance concerns and attending to medical appointments must be done, and it should be done with sober conviction and firm resolve.
-
it is wonderful to meet people who desire to share their knowledge of a topic. I have benefitted much from those who share their passion with me and I, in turn, try to give back to others what I know.
However when someone who not only has knowledge but true skill and talent offers to share and teach, how exciting!!t. Seize that opportunity with gratitude and grow as much as you can. To be taught by skilled craftsman, gifted drummers, talented pipers, exceptional sailors is a blessing indeed.
-
A written thought a day keeps the worries at bay.
Today I instructed my boys to keep a journal every day. They can write whatever they want to in it and whenever they would like, but it is best to pick a certain time of day to write because then it can become a habit. My older son asked, “But what do you write about in a journal?”
“Anything,” I responded. Knowing that ambiguity is often the stifler of thoughts, I provided some examples. “A recap of the day, conversations you enjoyed, questions you ask yourself, thoughts for a story you would like to write, your response to political events, what makes you happy, what makes you sad…” My heart swells right now, just thinking about all the possibilities. “The point is to put your thoughts on paper, like putting meat on bones. Harnessing random flits of reactions and forming it into a unified thought.” They began nodding their heads as if it was starting to make sense. “But you must write in complete sentences,” I added. “Learn to think in complete sentences. It will help you become a stronger analytic and communicator.”
I have found that writing often eases stress. Journaling is a way to tease out the wound up strings of worry and insecurities. Writing in complete sentences helps lay the tracks for clearer, positive thinking, especially when we learn to talk to ourselves. Ask ourselves questions. “Why am I feeling the way I am? What can help me get through this tough time? What is it about sailing that makes me feel so happy? How can I share that with others? Who loves me most in the world? How can I help another person? Stand up and smile and extend a hand of friendship.”
So here is to building habits for strong futures.
P.S. I have been keeping up with jotting down some writings each day, but it has been on my phone and not on the computer. I will have to catch up posting another time.
-
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.
-
Have you ever seen dolphins surf? I had only seen them in videos on the computer. This morning I took a detour on my way home and swung by a beach. It had been a while since I had stoped by the wave struck sands. I parked my car in a lot behind some buildings, hesitant to go around the buildings. What if the beach was crowded? What if hardly anyone was there? Maybe I should make better use of my time and run some errands.
I began putting on my sunscreen, a small step to allow myself time to still drive away without commitment but also preparing to walk out there if I should so choose. A fisherman walked by, rolling his gear in a wagon. Deliverymen opened the heavy metal door of their trailer and began unloading goods for the stores. Then an older couple strolled by, hand in hand, pleasantly chatting on their way to enjoy a beach walk. “Okay,” I thought, “these are people like me. I am ready to discover what is on the beach this morning.
My slippered feet passed over the black asphalt, still cool from a night’s respite from the sun. I exited the parking lot, stepping into cool, soft white sand riddled with specks of grass and plants. Immediately my slippers came off my feet and I carried them lazily along the briefly winding sandy path. I love how different it is to walk on sand than on hard earth or asphalt. The shift beneath my hips, prompting an extra engagement for all of my muscles and joints. As I walked by a pier, my eyes constantly glanced from ocean horizon to the ground by my feet so as to avoid any surprise fish hook or other sharp object ending my lovely morning.
Whenever I go to the ocean, I naturally scan the horizon for any unusual movement in the waters. Today my search instantly spotted a dark fin not too far from shore. Then a couple more fins appeared in the foam of the waves. Wave upon wave crested and surged forward in energizing barrel formations. Within the barrel I saw four dolphins… surfing the wave! They rode the waves for pleasure, for fun. Even from a distance, I could sense the enjoyment of these animals.
After several minutes of communing with these magnificent, playful creatures, I meandered under a pier to watch more waterplay on the other side. There were about ten people surfing with long boards and short boards, catching some well-formed waves conveniently close to the shore. Hang loose was the vibe, good ole’ surfing fun.
It was a day for playing in God’s nature. Dolphins played, people played, even the birds were having fun chasing fish or running on the beach. The day concluded with a gorgeous sunset. I would be happy if all days were like today. For now, I will treasure getting to share in a dolphin’s play in the surf.
-
I snuck into the back of the darkened sanctuary. My children and I were visiting a new Bible study, familiar in style but new location. We had walked through the crying infant and toddler drop-off locations. “I don’t like it here,” said my youngest in response to all of the noise. He seemed to have no idea that we were that family with loud, crying children not too long ago. As we rounded the corner into the “student” drop-off location, life became calmer and quieter. All went happily to their specified leaders. I briskly headed down the winding hallways to the adult section where I quietly slipped into the sanctuary.
I sat by myself, surrounded by a few empty chairs and women young and mature. From my choice seat, I could view the entire audience as well as the speaker. Everyone seemed eager to be there, anticipating a chance to meet the women in their small groups. As the speaker spoke enthusiastically about the contents we will cover this year, my spirit stirred with the title of our study – Exile and Return: a Time to Build. A shirt two rows in front of me drew my attention – butterflies. Her friend next to her wore a colorful floral shirt. Butterflies = Spirit moving, transformation from grounded to flight, growth. This is a time of change, a time to rebuild. This year of study God is going to move in my heart and the hearts of those dear to me. I saw it already when this evening two of my boys independently asked to read their Bibles. I heard it in conversations with others. Perhaps there will be a chance to share beyond our family.
Sometimes change is hidden, like this butterfly in a photo I snapped at the beach. Sometimes it is blazingly evident in front of our eyes. Can we embrace it and adapt?
-
I try to find activities for myself and my children, sometimes informal sports gatherings or social get togethers. I think I have great ideas. I do my research. I plan it into our day. Then when I or we arrive, no one is there. It happens to be the one day that everyone was sick… or out of town… or the location was changed last minute… or there are two locations and I chose the wrong one. Seriously, it’s kind of insanely funny how many times this has happened to me.
One might consider me to be a poor planner or researcher, but I am convinced that those encounters were just not meant to be. God has other plans for the day. There have been times when I have had the opportunity to actually see the other end of the story, the opportunities that arose because doors were shut earlier. It is still often quite frustrating, to feel like I’m spinning my wheels and getting nowhere, but when I roll with it, I end up finding more than I thought I was looking for. So I think I must choose to roll with it.
-
(written Friday, August 29, 2025)
The glassy surface of the sound
Reflects the muted sky.
Tiny ripples sneak across smooth serenity.
Color of sky and water
merged as one.
Soft blues
and grays
and pinks.
Glass.
-
(Thursday, August 28, 2025)
If there is one recommendation I could give to our stressed-out culture, it would be “Get thee to the waterside.”
The gentle breeze in the water.
The tall pines with falcons and various water fowl.
Tiny fish swimming in schools
A 2-inch fish stand-off and fight.
Fish jumping for joy.
Noticing the tire tracks in the water.
The sound of gentle ripples circling and spreading out from a center drop.
Sounds of cicadas.
Soft, compacted, wet sand beneath my feet.
A delightful monarch butterfly.
Get thee to the waterside.
Leader
Will you lead through the fire?
What when the fire dies?
Who are you leading and do you know your why?
Do you promote yourself above others?
Or do you look and see others, weaving talents together to yield a cloth of multiplied strength?
Deceptive is the idea that the best leader is one most skilled in his craft (be it flying a plane, designing technology, etc).
Perhaps leading others is a skill in itself.
Look just below the highest performing worker… for the one who watches, observes, encourages, challenges the team to grow.
Can an intrinsically skilled leader of people lead in multiple contexts, regardless of his/her specific job training?
Leader, lead people and know why you lead.
Life is Sailing 