Living just half an hour from the ocean as a child, I spent weeks and weeks of summers at the beach. Moving into the middle of the continent as an adult was not easy but I’ve learned to love my new hometown. Still, I miss the beach, the taste of the salt on the air, the sound of the crashing waves and the endless horizon. Respect for the fierce power of the ocean was one ingrained in me very early, most especially its riptides.
Riptides, or rip currents, are currents that flow straight out from shore toward open ocean. They can move swiftly and alarm a swimmer unfamiliar with them. The currents themselves don’t drown swimmers, but swimmers sometimes drown when caught in riptides because they exhaust themselves trying to swim against them.
Experienced beach goers and ocean swimmers know to swim out with the riptide until you can get to the edge of it to get out of it. After swimming parallel with the shore to get away from the riptide, simply swim back toward shore. I know this works because I’ve done it.
Some days make you feel like you’re swimming against a riptide. It’s exhausting, demoralizing and frustrating. But, you can take the same survival strategies of ocean riptides and apply them to your day. Just let the current push you from shore, your goals and your desires. Literally go with the flow, swimming out towards open ocean.
It can be scary, but remind yourself you’re still in control by swimming with the current instead of against it. As the current slows down or you get to the edge of it, change direction so you’re at least tracking parallel to your objective. When you no longer feel the current pulling you farther out, turn straight at what you want and go for it. I know this works because I’ve done it.
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