When we left the dock, the skies were blue and the sun was bright. It was going to be a beautiful day for scuba diving the North Wall in Grand Cayman, which is known for it’s rougher waters but giant fish (sharks). We had high hopes of seeing some of Cayman’s beautiful tiger or nurse shark. The bumpy ride out and the rocking boat on entry, are usually worth it, as soon as you roll off into the water. But this particular day, an intense storm swale blew up almost as soon as we dropped anchor.
It was rough.
The boat was rocking so hard, it made it difficult to hold ourselves still long enough to gear up. For a girl who doesn’t live with much fear, it was scary rough out there. I’ve been diving in the rain and stormy conditions before, but this one really took the cake. The divemasters kept reminding us that everything would be fine as soon as we got in the water so everyone eventually got their gear on.
One by one, our group rolled into the stormy sea.
Since I’m not one who gets seasick, I’m usually the last one in, especially on days like this one. Once in the water, their heads would bob up long enough to say, “Come on in, it’s calm underneath!” I remember sitting there thinking, “Even if everything is fine under the water, what will happen to this boat?!” Of course, I donned my gear and rolled myself back into the dark waves.
As soon as I did, everything was beautiful and completely still.
It was other-worldly. Just above my head, the storm was still raging. I could see the waves crashing and the rain pellets hammering the surface. But underneath, the whole world was peaceful and calm. We saw a beautiful tiger shark that day, just the way we hoped. But we would have missed it if we’d avoided the scary part.
We would have missed it if we’d decided to play it safe.
“People romanticize their plans, but dread the execution. The magic you’re looking for is in the work you’re avoiding.” ~ Create Cultivate
We’re usually planning for beautiful blue skies, calm glassy water, and all the exciting adventures life has in store, but life rarely goes that way. Storms roll in and they scare us. Sometimes they keep us paralyzed, afraid to do the thing we came to do because the water is dark and we don’t know what lies beneath. We’re not sure what the outcome will be if we decide to take the plunge. It looks harder and much riskier than we were expecting.
The magic you’re looking for is in the work you’re avoiding.
What’s the work you’re avoiding today?
The magic is there.
to more love,
Crystal
p.s. I know sometimes making time for yourself to get to a girls night out is hard work. But as soon as you walk in the door, it will be worth all the effort. The magic you’re looking for is in the work you’re avoiding. Tickets are still available for this Thursday’s Simmer Down GNO modern calligraphy class. Do “the work”.
