One Apple A Day #649 - find your rock
Ibiza, End of October 2011.
We had some gorgeous days so far. The weather is just perfect and because the summer season ended a week ago, everywhere and everything is so quiet.
But none of this is relevant right now, here.
I'm desperately clinging to the bench while I try to avoid looking at all the other people fighting and losing a similar battle against a common enemy.
Motion sickness is winning over just everyone but the sailors managing the boat. Everywhere I turn, I see pale faces and desperate eyes.
I can't remember why we thought that sailing to Formentera was a great idea.
I'm ready to add myself to the line of people throwing up from the edge of the boat when I remember something.
Years before, in a similar situation, a sailor told me to find a fixed point on the shore and keep my gaze on it all the time.
Yes, the shore is still visible over there on the right.
I lock my eyes on a rock or promontory, I don't know. It's still, and that's everything I need right now.
Stillness.
Slowly, I regain some control on my body and when the destination harbour becomes visible, I know I'm going to get through this.
A conversation I had yesterday brought back this memory. When we are going through a rough sea, swaying and swinging around under external forces bigger than us, it's easy to experience something similar to motion sickness.
In those moments, it can be beneficial to have a fixed point. A rock on which we can put our gaze. Whatever we put our attention on will expand. If we put our focus on something or someone firm and steady, that stillness will grow within us, helping us sailing through the storm.