What Can You Learn from a Marlin?

At 6am yesterday morning I had thought I would be packing my bags to return to Phoenix after spending a lovely extended week in Playa del Carmen, Mexico. By 7:30am I had decided to scrap Plan A and go deep sea fishing with friends. I'd never been deep sea fishing before, which was my rationalization at staying yet one more day.

We piled into the cars and drove down to Puerta Aventura where we had chartered a boat for the day. As we headed out, the choppy water threw us up and around and most of us were feeling more than a little queasy. I thought to myself, "What the hell have I just signed up for? FOUR HOURS of THIS?!"

As we headed out the water eventually became calmer, and I came to realize that this was more than a waiting game. Boredom began to creep in. The gentle rocking of the boat began to make me sleep so I closed my eyes. We were all pretty quiet when all of a sudden our captain, Nacho yelled out and our Mariner, Jorge, jumped into action. We had a fish on the line! Everyone gathered around Trisha who was our first in the seat. That was the first time I learned that there is a rhythm to deep sea fishing. When you let the line out, you reel the fish in and breathe. Then you pull back slowly...if there's too much pressure on the line, you can ask for help. Then repeat...eventually the fish comes close enough and he/she is yours!

The day only increased in excitement. I was next in the seat and it happened so fast I barely had time to understand I was up to bat! I had no idea turning a reel was so damn hard. I turned & turned until I thought my hand was going to explode. Everyone was cheering & yelling & I wanted to be strong, but I could feel myself slipping. I cried out, "Ayude Me!" or "Help Me!" & the next thing I knew my friend, Beth, was right there. She shouted encouragement, inspiration & helped me with the dang pole. I struggled, I worked, my brain was exploding with self-doubt & kept saying, "I can't, I can't...." And then, just when I thought I couldn't do this another minute, it was there! My fish! It was bigger than I could have ever imagined.

I'll be writing about this for awhile...the metaphors are simply too delicious. In the meantime, here's what I learned from a Marlin:

1. Stop planning & just make a decision to do something you've never done before.

2. Life is like fishing. You just keep moving, follow the signs and enjoy the moment.

3. Patience can make you nauseous, but once the action starts there's nothing better to ease your stomach & clear your ehad.

4. Outrageous success may involve hard work, and you don't have to do everything all by yourself.

5. You can give up, or you can ask for help.

6. Life is best lived...living! Get out of your head & into your life!

7. When your success is bigger than you can handle...get help in holding it up for the camera.

p.s. I found out that there are 3 types of "Billfish" that inhabit the waters where we were. Blue Marlin, White Marlin & my fish, which is called Bella Pescada. "Beautiful Fish."

I encourage you to now get off the computer & go get your Marlin.

How to Stop Taking Yourself so Seriously: 6 Steps to Keeping It All In Perspective

Have you ever been so caught up in your own problems that you didn’t even notice what was actually taking place around you? Or been so wrapped in responsibility and self-judgment that you failed to recognize the beauty and wonderful events actually occurring in your life? Have you ever taken yourself so seriously that you completely missed the signs the Universe was giving you to lighten up and keep it all in perspective?

You’re not alone!

So there I was, taking myself way too seriously. (Mind you, I was on the beach, in Mexico – taking myself way too seriously.)

I was laying there questioning my purpose in life. You know, the deep stuff, no light daydreaming here. I mean, really, why was I here? What do I have of value to offer the world? To humanity? How could I contribute positively to the lives of others?

I was getting myself very worked up when the storm started rolling in.

Now, I should clarify that this was the middle of hurricane season. The year before, the area I was in had been so badly stricken by the storms that people were forced from their homes, the major resorts were closed and the major international airport was closed for weeks.

So, there I was, watching the black clouds growing thicker and darker by the moment. The storm was headed straight for us. The thunder was booming loudly. Then the lightning began.

Now where I come from, when the lightning is in the sky, the people get out of the water. The lifeguards blow their whistle and you know to get to dry ground. Quickly.

I watched the fishermen. They didn’t even blink. I watched the sailboats. Everyone continued talking. I watched the people in the water. IN the water.

As I started to scramble my belongings and hightail it outta there, I realized I was the only person reacting to this situation with panic or fear of this pending storm.

I stopped. I remembered that I lived in the desert. And while we have an occasional monsoon, rain is not a regular occurrence. I had to remember, I was in the tropics. They see this almost every day, at the same time.

At first I thought I had to be the only intelligent person on the beach. Then I realized they may know something I didn’t. I mean, they DO live here – year round. The MUST know the difference between an afternoon shower and a hurricane that can demolish a city.

Five minutes went by. Ten minutes. The storm passed. The sun came out.

It occurred to me that perhaps the storm was a way of reminding me that while life may look like a heavy storm and have all the rumblings of disaster, if we can just remember to take ourselves a little less seriously and watch the signs around us, this too shall pass.

I laughed. Out loud. I mean really, there I was, taking myself way too seriously. On the beach. In Mexico. On a beautiful sunny day. How ridiculous.

Here are some simple tips to help you remember that even when it seems like a storm is rolling in, sometimes if we relax and shift our perception just a little, we can, indeed, keep it all in perspective, and this too shall pass.

1. Stop reacting

Don’t let an impending storm take control of your feelings and actions. You are still the one in control. Take a deep breathe and don’t take the situation personally. Remember this: everything is a neutral event except for the emotion we attach to it.

2. Start observing

Watch. Listen. See what is actually happening rather than reacting based on an immediate fear. Evaluate the circumstance first. Sometimes the storm is over before you even know it.

3. Be grateful

Physically, mentally, emotionally, financially, spiritually. We are often more attached to that which we think we don’t have instead of expressing gratitude for that which we do. Take a moment to express thanks for what you do have and where you are at the time. (You could be sitting the sweet spot and not even realize it!)

4. Pay attention to the signs around you

There are signs everywhere reflecting the truth of a situation as well as your perception. What are people doing or saying around you? Is the rest of the world calm while you are worked up into a pickle? If so, check your premises. You may be making things up.
5. Lighten up

We as human beings have a tendency to make life far more difficult than it really is. Life is actually quite simple.

Take a step back from yourself and look at what’s really happening around you. If you can’t find something to smile or laugh about and lighten the intensity, you’re still taking yourself too seriously.

6. Remember this too shall pass

The only constant in life is change. Whether something is good or bad, it all passes onto something else. The best we can do is to remember that life does not always suck, and it isn’t always wonderful. It is a sweet mix that ebbs and flows between the two, and provides us with endless opportunities for learning, experience and practice.

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