Unpredictability as a Teacher

I have been enjoying daily lake dips for coming up on four weeks now.  What has really struck me during this time is the amount of unpredictability I have faced despite repeating the same actions.  My gear and setup have remained the same, as has my pre- and post-dip routine.  The lake is always there, and I have also become familiar with how the water feels on my bare skin at this time of year.  That is where the line of predictability is drawn.  Outside of those elements, the rest is always a bit uncertain.  

The water is never the same two days in a row -- the weather may show high winds, and yet the lake is calm as glass, or vice versa.  I live close to the water, but not so close as to know what I am going to encounter until I am at the water's edge.  I like that because it requires me to deal with what I have in front of me.  This is something new for your author who is a planner at heart.  I will gladly spend the energy to mentally plan and plot out steps, timelines, and milestones to reach goals while minimizing unknowns.  On paper that all sounds great -- who wouldn't want to reduce the number of obstacles encountered in their life?  In reality, it is actually incredibly exhausting and often futile, as no matter how hard we try, we are going to be thrown curve balls and will need to be able to react in the moment.  

What showing up every day and walking into the lake has been teaching me is that I am much better equipped to deal with unknowns than I have given myself credit for.  I have become a better problem-solver under pressure, as I have learned that solutions come much more easily when I allow my thinking to relax instead of becoming rigid.  I have learned the unexpected joy that comes with letting go of expectations and being open to new opportunities.  Driving down to the water thinking I am going to spend a few minutes in calm and quiet solitude, only to be welcomed by the energy of waves and water that is beaconing me to join in its fluid dance has brought play back into my days.  

And then there are the sunrises.  No two are ever alike and none can be fully captured by a camera.  There is nothing quite like watching the sky change into a kaleidoscope of colours right before your eyes, followed by the glowing red globe of the sun, steadily making her way into the skies.  

Not all unpredictable situations are pleasant -- we often get smacked in the face by turmoil we weren't expecting, much like mistiming a wave's approach and jumping too soon, only to land smack-dab in the middle of it.  As hard as those moments may be, they pass and are replaced by our next opportunity to try again.  These lessons in bending and not breaking are not easy to learn, and there are days when I would rather just know what to expect and ride out my time.  I also know that without these teaching moments, I would be missing out on so many opportunities to become stronger, more resilient, and ready to face whatever may come my way.