The Silence Speaks Volumes
I left the house at about 10:30 this morning. Beautiful sunny day.
As I drive past Doheny, the water looks so inviting. It is a two-tone blue with a lighter and almost sandy hue close to shore and a deeper blue further out. It looks like a picture from the tropics.
When I get to the Strand parking lot, there is a light wind but the water looks great and there is a picture perfect view of Catalina Island.
As I am walking down the stairs it looks like there is a pretty good sized set of waves rolling in. There is a combo of SSW and NW swells in the water and set to peak today. Nothing super big but enough to notice.
As I step on the the beach, I see two figures up ahead that look familiar. It’s my dad and his friend Denny. We briefly chat and then I head into the water.
This run of warm water continues. I think September is going to win the prize for best month of the Summer as far as water temperature is concerned. Last night’s water temperature forecast did warn of some slight cooling possible during the week due to North West winds but nothing significant.
I swim past the surf line and initially I notice that the water visibility is better than it has been for some time. However, as the swim proceeds and the wind picks up, this clarity seems to be short lived.
Regardless, it is super nice. The water starts off with a sort of vertical bump. It just feels like you are bobbing up and down. Then about a third of the way through the swim, it starts getting fairly choppy and it is “wave in face” city. I’m loving every minute of it.
I’m feeling pretty content and relaxed in the water today. I’m yielding to the equanimity of my breath - letting the tension release with every exhale. This equanimity and tension reside on either side of my breath. My breath forms an edge that I walk on like a tight rope. I stretch my arms to feel as one flows into the other in either direction. In the stillness just at the horizon, I see my worry dissolve into stillness. Silence washes over my anxiety. It feels good.
The silence has volumes to speak. The absence of words and thoughts communicate all I need to know.
