Riding the Wave

I have this necklace. It is nothing fancy. It was an impulse buy at a local boutique I like to shop. The necklace is a wave. Honestly, it’s starting to look a little rough, but that’s mostly because I wear it frequently. Why you might ask would an inexpensive little necklace be a favorite. It’s what the wave symbolizes.

I grew up in Southern California knowing some real-life surfer dudes. Even as a small child, I had a hard time understanding their chill attitude towards life. I prefer things that are predictable and orderly. It wasn’t until a few years ago when I was in my Kripalu yoga teacher training, and we had a class about riding the wave that my feelings started to shift. As it was explained in the training, riding the wave means holding on even when it’s hard or intense. You only have to last until you get to the top of the wave. Then, you get to ride the surf and feel the release. 

While in this talk, the point was about holding a difficult yoga pose, but clearly, it’s a metaphor that carries into life. So when I saw this little necklace one day at the boutique, it spoke to me. I wear it sometimes just because. But I frequently seek it out when I’m feeling stressed. Wearing the wave necklace helps remind me that soon the uphill climb will pass, and I will be able to ride the wave of my efforts. 

Well, the other day, the universe must have been laughing at me, or plotting against me. I was feeling stressed. I wanted to wear my wave necklace, and the chain had a knot in it! I have no idea how or when this happened. But it did, and to pile on, of course, I was in a hurry. And try as I might to get the knot out, it was not happening. The longer it took, the more frustrated I felt. I could feel the anxiety and dysregulation rising in me. Was I going to have to leave it and face the day without the necklace? As I was getting ready for the last try, I took a deep breath and slowed my exhale to calm my nerves. One more try. Got it!

I put on my wave necklace and headed out to ride the waves of the day. I hope you find some inspiration in this real-life tale. It’s just another example of how #humaningishard for all of us. And that’s okay. Mental health has lots of waves. Surf on!

Kate Bender is a dual-certified Psychiatric Mental Health and Adult Nurse Practitioner and award winning writer. She knows, firsthand, life is messy and hard. Sometimes people need support and help from a professional. When working with Kate, your mental health will be compassionately addressed in a manner that honors your mind, body, and spirit. She lives with her family on the shoreline in Old Saybrook, Connecticut. Connect with Kate on Instagram or LinkedIn.