FINDING BALANCE

Finding balance. The battle we fight every day. Too much work, crazy schedules or not enough time to do the things we enjoy. Speaking of enjoyment, SUP'ing is my “thing". It's where I find balance. It's the perfect blend of exercise, leisure and a soulful connection to nature. Any time spent on the ocean is time when I can truly breathe. Like most Long Island girls, I'm sure.

I started SUP'ing during my family vacations on ShelterIsland; a magical haven nestled between the North and South Forks. SUP is an abbreviation for Stand Up Paddle. It's exactly what it sounds like: a rider stands on a long board and uses a paddle to push through the water. When I heard there was a kayak launch-site at Merrick Park, 5 minutes from my house, I had a new board and all the fancy accessories within a week. I savored that one summer day, never expecting I'd have the opportunity to enjoy the experience right here in my own town.

The Personal Trainer part of me always kicks in. SUP'ing is great for toning the upper body. It's amazing for the core and increases endurance and stability. Yes, it's crucial to keep the physical body fit and healthy, but all of that falls to the wayside. My body is also a vessel. It houses my emotions and spirituality. Just like the delicate balance of nature, we are an intricate bundle of separate entities and it is balance that makes us whole.

So, it's true, I am getting a great workout. But the minuteI slide my board in the water and take that first stroke with my paddle, the symbolism of everything in life envelopes me. Just to be clear, there is a process prior to this “zen moment". Hurling the board on to my truck is a grueling workout before my experience even starts. Pulling it out when I get to the park, dragging it across the grass and down the gravel path: even harder.

After my pre-workout, I finally get to the wooden launching dock. My feet tingle in the shallow water as I leap on. I thought I was a good at multitasking but this is challenging to say the least. I'm wobbling. I could flip over in a heartbeat. I'm trying to push, glide, balance and stand up all at the same time. Finally I get my bearings and paddle off into the channel.

It takes a second to navigate my posture to that sweet spot that grounds me. I'm still a bit shaky but positioned and ready for an adventure. Even though this beautiful preserve is nestled in between a slew of shopping centers and a Parkway, I feel like Katherine Hepburn in African Queen. Where is Humphrey Bogart, you might ask? Sorry Humphrey, today I'm having a love affair with the ocean and all that surrounds it.

It's a 25 minute paddle to the bay. On my right, endless bright green marshes line the waterway. Giant seagulls flap their wings,splashing the water as they sense my approach. To my left, a forest with tangled branches reaches out over me. I duck under them to pass through.Muffled voices of early morning walkers mark the trail, hidden from my view by brush and trees. I'm gliding on a sheet of glass. Still water runs deep.

There's something new and exciting to experience with every thrust of my paddle. Dragonflies swarm all around me. I swear I can sense their curiosity as they buzz in my ear. Tiny sparkling fish scurry in complete unison as I sail by. I strive to maneuver my board with their precision and grace.

My shoulders are burning and sweat is trickling down my back as I approach the open bay. Two completely different worlds combine and I feel a surge at the intersection: each time as exciting as the first. Scary too. I never know how strong the current will be. Some days I'm struggling to stand upright, forced to drop to my knees and hold tight as I sway with the tides.Other days I paddle and paddle. If I stop for a second my board floats backwards, reminding me of how respectful, humble and cautious I need to be on a choppy day.

The water is magical: strong. I'm powerful too. The sun is warming my body and stinging my cheeks: my reward. Fishermen are casting their lines off the pier. I hear my Park Ranger friend talking to his buddy, as they stand with crossed arms over the railing, “Hey there's the paddle girl." I belong.

The wake from a boat, speeding by in the distance, propels me on a precarious ride. Waves clap against my board. I squat down lower to find balance once again, teetering above its weight and power. The ocean is taunting me, “You want a ride? I'll give you a ride missy". Within seconds allis calm again. I can sit now, take a break and soak it all in.

I dip my hands and swirl them around. My fingers skim the surface of this astounding body of water and just like the human body: shallow at the surface yet infinitely deep. Holding immeasurable strength, haunting secrets and magnificent beauty. All that is separating me from the vast sea isa thin plastic barrier. Regardless of its form, a barrier can block us from greatness: if we let it.

Time to head home. As I push my board to shore, I realize there are endless questions and glorious observations ahead.There will be moments that will make the journey an adventure worth exploring. It doesn't have to be SUP'ing. Whatever it is, the goal is to make my heart beat faster: to raise the little hairs on the back of my neck.

Maybe it's not about finding one “thing". Tides will always turn.Currents will throw me off, if I'm not careful. Getting knocked down isn't so bad, because getting back up will remind me of my resilience. Just like my legs struggling to stay grounded and my feet working diligently to stay afloat on my board; the secret to life is balance.

I'm always trying to find the lesson: pondering all the big questions. What is the moral of my story? It seems like determination and faith before the journey is equally important. The quest may leave me unsure,unstable and weary, but I will do my best to strive for peace and balance.


And if I can't find what I need, I'll just keep paddling.

KELLY FITNESS, CPT