Yesterday we put extra layers on and went for a walk on the beach. My first time seeing an open sea was when I was eight years old and my parents and I went to Sevastopol. I remember my dad pointing towards what seemed to be just a darker patch of sky in the distance and telling me that it's the sea. I was almost afraid to approach because it seemed that the sea would spill over washing us away.
From that moment I was in love with "it,'' all of it! The salt, wind, sand, a bit of danger, a lot of adventure and a shimmering horizon that promises...well, anything even an eight year old can dream up. There on the horizon everything is possible! Romantic isn't it!?
Speaking of the far away horizons... The other day a mysterious packet arrived all the way from Costa Rica. Sofia sent me a garland made of colorful leather patches, a bit of Costa Rican colors to decorate Netherlands with. I was beyond excited and it was immediately decided that the "colors" are coming with us to make their first international appearance at the beach!
{ "Costa Rican colors" flying high on a North Sea beach...Made by cueropapel&tijera. }
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The idea was to bring a bit of Costa Rica to our North Sea beach. A symbol of international friendship and a reminder that we really are closer to each other then we think, all part of a big global village. As I was trying to snap a picture of the garland being thrown here and there by the strong wind I noticed something. There, dotting the water were surfers. Yes surfers! This is Northern Europe... in the middle of WINTER! But there they were on their boards!
It's not the first time we've see them, they're always out there. But with Costa Rica on my mind I said to Vito, why don't these crazies just move to Costa Rica if they love surfing so much. Vito said: "Why should they? They seem pretty happy surfing right here." And there it was, the Aha! moment (again). That's true! Why should they move somewhere else!? They're doing what they love right here at HOME!!!
I'm guilty of this as anyone else, not doing certain things that I love because I get caught in the "If this, then, that" statements. If I lived in the warm Costa Rica, then I would take up surfing. If I lived on a Caribbean island, then I would run on the beach every day. If I win the lottery, then I will quit my job to sail on my pimping yacht around the world...
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{If I lived in the time of Ben-Hur, then I would ride an epic chariot...
No "if this, then that" statement is stopping these guys! }
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Do you do this too? In our defense, it's natural to do this. We go on vacation we try new sports, new foods, we get inspired, and we come home sad that we can't partake of these experiences anymore. Ohh, if I was...then I would... Let's ask ourselves what's really stopping us? Is it REALLY impossible to do what we want? What is your "if this, then that" statement that is holding you back from doing what you love right now???
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Jump start your week and flip the statement! "If I really want to...then I WILL make it happen!"
• • • LESSONS LEARNED • • •
If you really want to surf, then grab your board.
The waves are closer than you think.
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