Harmony

"Hey would you mind motoring over and checking on that surfer? He looks like he went down pretty hard and hasn't mounted his board again. Thanks."

"Sure thing, I'm on my way."

My gut told me something was wrong. More than just me liking to talk over the VHF radio made me make that call.

The surf was huge, 1/2 a mile offshore, the guy was obviously hurt and by himself out there and in a bad place. I couldn't help but start racing through procedures in my head as the boat approached the dazed surfer outside the break. There aren't designated lifeguards on this beach and the surf was unforgiving. He's aboard the boat and shore-bound.

"Call 911."

Paramedics arrive and race him away. Heart attack. His, Mike's, first one ever.

It's been two weeks. Family friends of his came and picked up his board from our hut a few days after the accident and to our surprise today, Mike and his wonderful wife, Joanne, came down to the beach bearing orchids and gifts for all that were involved in his rescue that day. Two major surgeries and two stints later, Mike is on his feet and although, to his wife's disapproval, is planning to get back on the board once his doctors give the approval. He's 63 years old.

I reinforced my belief that day to never take a single day for granted.

Yesterday I worked on the boat where a private cruise was chartered for a young man, 32 years old, who had passed away, away from home and his family. An accident. Ashes spread, praises given and flowers in the wind to gain closure and celebrate life. Not one person wore black. In the distance as we left the sight a whale tail splashing in the distance bid us farewell. Repeated slaps against the water, booming, even in the wind.

I reinforced my belief that day to never take a single day for granted even more.

Tomorrow our company is taking a little girl diving for her first time who is losing her battle with leukemia. She's 12 years old. This is something on her bucket list- scuba dive with fish and turtles. She's going to be Ariel for an afternoon!

I will reinforce my belief tomorrow to never take a single day for granted even more than today.

In life you have to make many decisions. We make decisions for many reasons and often times let way too many things influence our choices. I have discovered in order to not cheat yourself out of life you need to make decisions that will make you most happy. Happiness trumps all. You have to take care of yourself and keep charge of your life. People are very opinionated and will jump at the chance to get their two cents in. Ultimately however you are the only one who can make the decisions to get back on the board or not.

Mike's getting back on the board- I saw it in his eyes. This little girl is jumping on the board for her first time.

I don't want to have something dramatic happen to me that makes me choose to change the way I live my life. I want to look back when I am old and realize that I have earned every wrinkle, sunspot and scar on my body. I want stories that bring giddiness to my heart just thinking about them. I want adventure. I look to my friends that I hope to have for the rest of my life, they risk their lives every day they paddle, climb, hike, ski or bike. They don't hold back. They live.

I'm not saying everyone should go out and start some new crazy extreme sport or drive their cars super fast, rob banks or go nuts. I am simply saying every once in a while you need to take a step back and make sure your life is the life you want for yourself. People's minds change. People's wants and needs change and in order to satisfy those wants and needs, there must be harmony between actions and the ultimate outcomes. Reevaluate from time to time, stay in tune with yourself. Make a list...I'd be lying if I said I wasn't sitting in front of a giant one as I write this.

New outlooks, as new as the snow on top of Mauna Kea.

An awakening? Perhaps. Who the heck knows...I don't.

I hope your day is full of wonderful things no matter how big or small.

Sending love across the ocean deep,

M.

Be glad of life because it gives you the chance to love and to work and to play and to look up at the stars.
-Henry Van Dyke