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Catching the Waves is published in Women in Journey; God, Please Help Me Through the Wilderness.
No part of this story may be copied or reproduced without permission from
the publisher. Copyright © 2008 by InSpire, an imprint of DemmeHouse, Inc.
Writer's Bio:
Jean L. Jones is a licensed Marriage & Family Therapist. The mother of three
is the founder of High Pointe Counseling Center in Franklin, Tennessee. For more info, visit her website at: www.highpointe7.com
Catching
the Waves
by Jean L. Jones, MMFT, LMFT
IN MY EARLY TWENTIES, I moved to
Southern California. Having lived in the
South all of my life, I formed a concept
of what California life would be like from
the movies and television media.
Soon after arriving in Los Angeles,
I obtained employment at UCLA and
began to make friends. I was pleasantly
surprised to discover that the people
there were so friendly and open to
others relocating from other states.
At that time in the late 60’s, it was
unusual to find a “native” of Los Angeles.
I soon settled into a comfortable lifestyle and discovered the beach. I would spend hours lying on the beach and enjoying the water. One of the many water recreations that I enjoyed was surfing, oh no, not on a surfboard, but “body board surfing.” For those not familiar with this sport, it involves going out a distance in the water and watching the waves as they approach. Then at just the right time, when the wave is forming, one would jump on the body board and lie down on top of the wave and ride it to the shore. There has been too many times however, that I missed the wave and arrived on the shore with bruised, scraped knees and gasping for air.
The challenges and problems of life can be approached like surf-riding. It depends on how you “catch” or “miss” the wave that
determines what will be your ultimate experience. If you are careful to be attentive to what is going on around you, there is a good chance that you will jump at the right time and ride on top of the wave, right onto the shore. If you don’t watch or if you miss the right time, the wave will catch you unaware, hit you in the back, and crash into you, taking you under and out of control.
An ill child or parent, inadequate finances, loss of employment, or an unplanned pregnancy are examples of “waves.” When you are experiencing these types of circumstances frequently you feel that you “missed the wave” and now you are being taken under and thrashed about, out of control. You may feel overwhelmed and out of breath. The disappointment of not experiencing the thrill of catching the wave may run deep.
How you perceive the waves of life determines what you will do. Either you will get back up, go out to catch another wave or quit. I encourage you not to quit because distressful challenges are often used to move us from one place to the next in our lives.
Use these opportunities to take another look at the life choices that you are making. During this economic change in our nation, use this as an opportunity to consider developing a budget. If you have a budget then look closely to see where you can spend more wisely. If you have lost your job, consider what “gifts” you possess that are untapped within you. Do you sew, paint, or have carpentry skills? Then consider offering these services for a fee.
Remember it is how you catch the wave that determines your experience. Even in missing it, you have another opportunity to go out and try it again.
And as always ...“Fear less and love more.”
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