“As political opinions are swirling around us like dust devils, we need to stop to distinguish between opinions, beliefs, and our deep knowings.” – Anne Wilson Schaef

We went Boating as a family yesterday. We are having a “stay-cation.” It was a wonderful, relaxing day. I even swam within about 8-10 feet of some rather curious, wild dolphins, which is truly an exhilarating experience.

I grew up boating on the three rivers of Pittsburgh. I spent a lot of time on those rivers with our family, driving the boat, water-skiing and relaxing, as we anchored in still waters and fished or just floated, watching other boats pass on by. In Pittsburgh, there we quite a few barges that go up and down the rivers and if you think that a barge looks enormous from the shore, I can’t even begin to describe how intimidating it is to witness a filled-to-the-brim, lumbering barge coming up on you, while you are trying to get a water skier out of the water and then trying to get the flooded engine turning, on a small motorboat. Do you remember that picture of Jaws coming up on the hapless water-skier? It’s just like that picture exactly, except that it is real. And really dangerous.

Boating isn’t all fun and games. Like many activities, there’s a whole lot more to it than there looks, and anyone who has boated for any length of time, has their share of mishap stories, ranging from mild happenings to near-death experiences. While these stories are retrospectively amusing to tell to other people, the events are actually quite terrifying and frustrating and harrowing, when happening in real-time. Sometimes you just sit back and thank your lucky stars, when you look back at your more intense boating excursions.

Yesterday, was actually a smooth sailing day on the water. There was no dangerous weather to race from, no chopped up props, no engine failures, no lost anchors and no drunken crazies to dodge. It was the kind of beautiful, relaxing boating day that keeps those of us who love boating, hooked on it. Other boating excursion days often prove to be a test to your marriage, your wallet, your faith in humanity and in your own sanity, but yesterday, was a boating day made in heaven.

I haven’t boated regularly since I was in my early twenties, until this summer, when we joined the boating club. I am happy to report, that just like bike riding, everything that you learned about boating comes back to you. Though rusty, I am actually pretty proud of my driving prowess, my knowledge of safety concerns, and my overall, Sea Legs. I also fully respect, how much more that I have to learn, the kind of learning that can only come from experience.

So, all of this backstory finally brings me about to my opening quote. My aunt and I were recently discussing how we both feel that we are at a loss with who to trust, what information to believe, and where we think all of the current problems in the world, are headed. All of the information coming to us, is so convoluted, politicized, emotionally laden, and multi-layered. The above quote was a great reminder for me, to stop and take the time to reflect. Just like boating, I can listen to others’ opinions on navigation and weather, with an eye to how much I actually trust that person’s opinions based on their own experience and their actions. I can also examine my own beliefs which have come about and evolved from my own experiences and influences, and then most importantly, I can listen to my gut inclinations and my inner knowledge. My intuition and my deep knowing is a culmination of everything I have learned and experienced (my outside wisdom that comes from my life experiences) and my faith in myself and my God. That inner voice is quiet and serene, but it never steers me wrong.

The next time that I go boating I will rely on the mix of other people’s opinions (from boat captains whose experience and knowledge and intentions, I trust), my own beliefs about what I need to do, which comes from my own experience on the water, and I will have faith in my gut reactions and unthinking responses to any travails that may come my way. If I stop to really ponder this formula of three, I should have another delightful boating experience under my belt. If I give myself this pause to ponder opinions, beliefs, and deep knowings, in any situation in life, my journey will undoubtedly get me safely, to my destinations, and at the same time, I will enjoy the voyage, all along the way.

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