Ebbs, Flows, and Eddies
I find that life comes in ebbs and flows and little eddies of movement. I believe that movement, any movement, is good! But I also find myself struggling when in a season of ebbing or gently floating in the swirling eddy.
I want life to be flow. All flow! Because flow sounds like accomplishment; it sounds like presence; it sounds like ease and enjoyment. It feels like forward movement, and going in the right direction. It sounds like I'm actually successful somehow…
And yet I know this to be untrue. Constant flow becomes a rushing torrent of movement that can't be stopped, or stemmed, or diverted. Like a river, raging out of control, and I’m awash in the middle of it, desperately grasping on to a felled tree and hoping I don't go under never to resurface.
We need the ebb! We need the eddy! They are still movement - in another way. They might feel like going backwards or in circles, but they aren't. They are serving us in ways that are easy to dismiss because they don't look like moving forward.
The ebb is a chance to rest and recharge. A chance to prepare for the next flow, the next rush of learning and absorption.
The eddy is a gentle swirling of relaxation. A chance to float, face up, and stare at the sky as we process what we've learned, how we're flowing, what we need for the next push down stream.
We need the ebb, the flow, and the eddy - all of them - to truly stay present, to live well, to be fully connected. And I remind myself of this when I’m chafing in the ebb or the eddy. And I remind myself of this when I'm drowning in too much flow. And I'm giving myself permission to enjoy each season - to appreciate it for what it is and be present in it.
Journey Prompt:
Find a safe place to close your eyes and pause.
Breathe deeply - in through your nose and out through your mouth.
Imagine a river. It’s the highway of your life flowing from inception to eventual conclusion.
What’s the current state of the water?
How are you experiencing ebbs, flows, and eddies?
What’s one way you can give yourself permission to enjoy each season of your life?
