Continuing in the vein of yesterday's posting, another win-win goal is the goal of learning new things. Learning is a fantastic win-win goal, because learning something always leads to the potential for sharing. The more you learn, the more you have to share with others.
Just a few weeks ago, I was visiting Virginia Beach for a local conference. While I was there, I decided to drop in at Freedom Surf, where I picked up a used longboard. (A Hobie Peter Pan Slug, for those who know about that sort of thing.) I've never been surfing before in my life, but I've always wanted to try it. When I told the salesman there my dilemma, he took me under his wing and told me everything I needed to know. (That was Jeromie, if you know the place. Really great guy. Greetings also to Jett - thanks for the directions - and to O.E. - thanks for holding onto my board for a while!)
Anyway, Jeromie took the time to walk me through the ins and outs of boards for beginners. He helped me pick out a great board and advised me on leashes, rash guards, and all the necessary accoutrements for a safe and fun ride. He also gave me some pointers and even waxed the board for me! All of which is to say that if you want to learn something new, whatever it is, I guarantee you there's someone out there who would be happy to help.
So I loaded up my new (used) board and headed out to the beach. Once I was there, the nervousness hit me. I had no idea what I was doing. There were several surfers out in the water who clearly did know what they were doing, but that didn't make me feel better. Obvious ineptitude in the face of slick expertise can be intimidating, to say the least! I sat on the beach and watched for a while, but eventually I got up and put the board in the water. How did I overcome my insecurity? I didn't. I just knew that if I didn't go out there I'd be really mad at myself. I hate being mad at myself.
Once I got out there, though, I had a blast. Surfing was everything I hoped it would be, and I never even got up on my feet. It turns out that all that paddling we see surfers doing is a lot more work than I realized, and it takes some strong arms and good timing even to catch a wave in the first place. But catch one, I did. I was so excited that I didn't even try to stand up! I just rode in on my belly, grinning from ear to ear the whole way.
Standing on the beach again, I found myself staring into the face of a fellow I normally would have found intimidating just in his own right. He was covered in tattoos - and not exactly rainbows and buttercups either, if you catch my drift. These were not what you'd call friendly-looking tattoos. But I was so excited about the ride that all I saw was a human soul, there in front of me, sharing for that moment the connection of human experience.
I grinned at him and said, in a very excited way, "I caught one!"
He just smiled back. "Yep," was all he said. But it was enough.
Learning, growing, sharing. The experiences of life tie us together in a way that money and material things never will. They can overcome all the barriers of fear and difference that we so often fall back on, and open up for us instead a whole new world - one of joy and laughter and simple connection.
What have you learned recently? What would you like to learn? I'd love to hear your stories.
