Perspectives

A week ago I was sailing on Sunday. The morning race was a relatively gentle affair with light winds filling our sails. The afternoon saw the winds almost completely die off, and the race became more of a barely controlled drift. We repeatedly sought to sail against the incoming tide, only to lose whatever distance we had gained when we tacked across the river and drifted sideways at an alarming rate. 

As most of the crew sat on the side of the boat chatting among ourselves, one of the crew remarked "This is rubbish, we're going nowhere!".

A little later, as seals were bobbing their heads out of the water to take a look at our unproductive efforts, another crew - a man this time - was heard to say "Where is a club when you need one".

I found it quite ironic that just before the exclamation about "rubbish", I had been sitting on the side of the boat admiring the Forth Rail Bridge that we were unsuccessfully trying to pass underneath, and thinking what a beautiful day it was for being out on the water. I wasn't negative at all about the lack of progress, in fact I was quite entertained by our progress/backwards drift/progress/etc. The sky was blue, I was snug inside my four layers of clothing, and I was on the water. That was my perspective.

On the matter of the seals, I had been thinking moments before I heard the above comment that they were quite cute with their whiskery faces, and were incredibly graceful in their watery element compared to their comical clumsiness on land. I wasn't looking for a club, I wish I had a camera!

There are always more than one way of looking at life. I acknowledge that I don't possess the competitive drive exhibited in the first example - I simply choose to enjoy any opportunity I am given to be on water. I haven't had my fishing bait stolen by seals as I have tried to feed my family. Those that have may look for a club when they see a seal. My experience is purely to marvel at the grace and inquisitive nature of these extraordinary animals. 

That's my brief perspective on perspectives.

The little rough graphic below gives you an idea of our lack of progress until we simply gave up, lowered the sails, fired up the motor and returned to the club for a beer! Oh, by the way, the rounding mark we were heading for was somewhere to the right of the picture, pretty much off the screen!