This may seem like a very strange statement when you see the pictures of WW kayaking but it is true. There is a connection that is made when you are playing with nature and it helps you get calm.
I never really understood the whole surfing mentality until I did my first front surf kayaking. It is truly and amazing feeling that is very hard to describe. I think that it is very close to innocent joy. The kind of feeling that you have when you were a little kid. It is something that you will crave for sure.
There is also another element that helps to be still, it is the fact that when you are surfing or playing in a hole you are in the moment. No time to think about other items or you will end up off the wave or out of the hole. I also have this feeling when rock climbing but it is not as intense as when kayaking.
The last element that I think is really important is bonding with nature to a degree. There is a power in the water that I think helps your soul. I cannot explain this but feeling the current and playing in the water affects you.
As I sit here watching the the sun melting the snow all I can think of is heading to the river for a paddle.
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Nice thoughts about being still. I’m researching what stillness means to people for a dance performance I’m making and have been trawling through tons of religious and mystical stuff. This is the first thing I’ve come across that makes some kind of sense to me. Stillness as a moment so embroiled with the thing you are doing that nothing else matters. The stillness of the natural elements working on you. Thanks.
Glad to help. It was fun to come back to this post as I had not read it in a while.