Ready for a Fall

What do you do when you know you’re going to fall?

Falling isn’t fun. It’s something you don’t intend to happen and would prefer not happen at all.

But sometimes it just can’t be avoided. Sometimes it shouldn’t be.

Earlier this summer, we had a fantastic family reunion in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. It was filled with many splendid activities: celebrating our great aunt’s 90th birthday, kayaking down the river, playing in the (blessedly warm) ocean, setting off fireworks, and eating so much good food.

This was our second time back there (the previous one was 10 years earlier for a reunion with the same family) and this time I was able to do something I’d never done before: paddle board in the ocean.

Now, if you’ve read this post, you know how I feel about stand up paddle boards. If you haven’t read it, you should. It’s actually one of my favorite posts.

I still get out on the lake regularly and it’s still glorious.

But paddle boarding on the ocean is something else entirely.

I’ve yet to fall off in the lake, but I knew the minute I stood up in the ocean—like it or not—it was bound to happen.

As my especially adventurous uncle and I headed out into the waves on that cloudy day with the rain in our face (which was, surprisingly, not unpleasant) I knew that my lifelong streak of not falling of my board would soon be over.

It was then I set my mind. Rather than dreading the inevitable event, or even dwelling much on it at all, I simply accepted the fact that it would happen. Many times perhaps. And when it did, I’d just get back up and keep on going. I’d roll with the punches.

We both made it a good way out before it finally did happen. My uncle falling first, serving as the indicator that perhaps it was a good time to head back. I fell shortly after. We shared knowing smiles.

Once we’d turned around with the waves now approaching from behind us, it was impossible to tell what was coming. I just had to sense what the ocean was going to do and hope my legs adapted. We both fell many times after that.

Sure, falling wasn’t exactly fun. I’d rather have not, to be honest. But it beat not going out at all. The price of falling was more than worth that singular, memorable experience of standing out there with the unimaginably large body of water frolicking beneath us as we did our darnedest to make headway on its surface.

It was nothing like the calm stillness of the lake in the morning. It took serious concentration to paddle and remain upright, never quite knowing when you’d land back on your rear, forward on your knees or take another sprawling plunge into the sea.

But that was part of the fun too.

Life is full of falls. There are many we can—and should at least try to—avoid. But if you’re not falling at all, you’re missing out on what the waves have to offer. You’re not allowing the imbalance that comes form attempting something new to take you to places you’ve never been before.

You may be more comfortable watching from your recliner on the shoreline, while sipping on a cool beverage. But you’re certainly not having as much fun.

After all, you’re much more stable on all fours, but once you learn how to walk, run, and jump, crawling is much less appealing.

When we set out ready for a fall, but also ready to get up and press on when it happens, the challenges of life become more bearable. And we learn so much in the process—about the adventure and about ourselves.

We recently had a friend visiting from Germany whom I took out on the lake to paddle board for the first time. And, alas, as soon as he tried to stand, he went straight into the water. I’m sure that wasn’t pleasant for him, but he was a good sport about it and I was proud of him for even trying. Afterwords, he told me how much he enjoyed being out there.

It might not always be possible, but I do highly recommend that when you fall, you have a friend nearby to laugh with you and to remind you that falling is a completely normal part of life.

And it sure makes for some good stories too.