Why the wave?
(Lighthearted post ahead)
Waves and the ocean hold a special place in my heart. The ocean is powerful and awe-inspiring, yet it can also be calm and peaceful—a perfect metaphor for resilience. Like the ocean, we as humans are complex, ever-changing, and capable of incredible adaptability. To me, the ocean is resilience personified.
I want to share a light-hearted and humbling story about my own journey of resilience. During my time as a traveling PT, I’ve spent several years in California, often drawn to its stunning coastlines and breathtaking sunsets. While on assignment in Santa Cruz, I lived with friends who were avid surfers. If you know Santa Cruz, you know that surfing is practically a rite of passage there, but I hesitated. My first thought? “What about the sharks?!” This always got a laugh from the locals, who assured me how rare shark encounters actually are.
By my second week, I was paddling out for my first surf session. I spent most of that day learning about currents, sets, surf etiquette, and paddling techniques without even attempting to catch a wave. But being out on the water, soaking up the sunshine, was an unforgettable kind of peace.
As I continued my surfing journey, I kept going out with a friend who was a much more experienced surfer. The Pacific Ocean began to test me. I faced waves that terrified me, often leaving sessions swearing I’d never go back. Yet, I couldn’t get enough. After months of this push and pull relationship, I finally caught my first wave—and eventually stood up on one. That feeling? Pure magic.
Surfing taught me so much about life. The ocean has a way of humbling you, reminding you of both its strength and its beauty. One surf instructor shared wisdom I’ll never forget:
"You can’t fight her, and you can’t be afraid, you just have to take what the ocean gives you."
Those words resonated deeply. Replace “ocean” with “life,” and it’s just as true. As much as I am a firm believer that life happens for us, not to us, I think we can learn to adjust to life's different currents.
So here’s to living like the waves, and going with the flow of your life and recovery. Take what life gives you, and make the best of an ever changing situation.
(Disclaimer: I’m no pro surfer (yet)! I’m just out here learning, growing, and trying not to fall off my board too much. Take my wave and surfing wisdom with a grain of salt[water])
