God Bless Kayaking

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Abstract

r the next hour it was just me, the lake and my thoughts. My oars lapped against the water. The wind blew through the aspens as the sun rose higher into the cloudless sky.</p><p id="1c7f">For those of you who have never experienced this sport, kayaking is a blend of working-out and looking-within. With each pull of the oar, I felt my core strengthening, as I moved across the water. With each deep breath, I felt all my worries fall away. And soon I had a rhythm going that could challenge the best of the Olympians.</p><p id="b86a">Well, okay. I’m not that good but I do have my own style. Of course, my style does involve going around in circles for a bit, but after getting that situation under control I headed for the middle of the lake.</p><p id="50fe">Once there, I dropped my oars and rested my head back. Since I was on a lake there was no threat of sharks or any other type of sea monster. The only monsters were the ones in my mind and they soon disappeared as I stared at the beauty around me.</p><p id="e678">It’s one of the only places where I am totally in the moment. No cell phone. No email. No whining kids. No nagging husband. No worries.</p><p id="8fa4">And then I heard my sister sneezing from across the lake. One, two, three, four, her sneezes carried across the water, interrupting my meditative state.</p><p id="2e2e">I had to smile. Was her experience double the pleasure of mine? Like I said, I’m not one to judge. And right then it didn’t really matter.</p><p id="b698">I closed my eyes. If only momen

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ts like this could last forever.</p><figure id="7471"><img src="https://cdn-images-1.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:800/1*ekEc8roZ1gqPsjES3z_Hkw.jpeg"><figcaption>Photo by Betty Bishop</figcaption></figure><p id="f517">Read more from me here <a href="https://medium.com/@janieemaus">https://medium.com/@janieemaus</a></p><div id="754e" class="link-block"> <a href="https://readmedium.com/how-i-am-celebrating-masturbation-may-f29df8767dea"> <div> <div> <h2>How I Am Celebrating Masturbation May</h2> <div><h3>There is nothing like Private Dancing during a Pandemic</h3></div> <div><p>medium.com</p></div> </div> <div> <div style="background-image: url(https://miro.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:320/1*BFqzHXBD3PVyHejtK8eUIg.jpeg)"></div> </div> </div> </a> </div><div id="bbde" class="link-block"> <a href="https://readmedium.com/whats-that-buzzing-in-my-hair-a04b49b451a6"> <div> <div> <h2>What’s That Buzzing In My Hair?</h2> <div><h3>Will I ever be able to get a hair cut?</h3></div> <div><p>medium.com</p></div> </div> <div> <div style="background-image: url(https://miro.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:320/1*zWvfA7du4lUmDe1IYatw8Q.jpeg)"></div> </div> </div> </a> </div></article></body>

God Bless Kayaking

Working out, while looking within

Photo by Betty Bishop

It’s been said that sneezing ten times produces a physical sensation much like an orgasm. Some people go as far as saying it actually causes an orgasm. I don’t see how the involuntary expulsion of something from the nose can be as pleasurable as a climax. But I’m not one to judge what brings others pleasure.

All I can say is that one of the most euphoria-inducing activities in my life is kayaking. Yes, an early morning kayak on a clear calm lake is pure bliss. The water, the quiet, the solitude, the connection to Mother Nature.

All you need is a kayak and a lake.

Unfortunately, I don’t have either in my backyard. But I do have access to both whenever I, a city girl at heart, visit the small town where my sister lives. When I’m up in those mountains, I throw off my city skin and blend into her world. Which is what I had the opportunity to do just last summer, and hope to do again this year.

We got up with the sun and after watching it rise over the water, while drinking our necessary caffeine fix, we headed for the dock. After launching my kayak, I climbed in, pressed my feet against the footboard, grabbed the oars and off I went.

And for the next hour it was just me, the lake and my thoughts. My oars lapped against the water. The wind blew through the aspens as the sun rose higher into the cloudless sky.

For those of you who have never experienced this sport, kayaking is a blend of working-out and looking-within. With each pull of the oar, I felt my core strengthening, as I moved across the water. With each deep breath, I felt all my worries fall away. And soon I had a rhythm going that could challenge the best of the Olympians.

Well, okay. I’m not that good but I do have my own style. Of course, my style does involve going around in circles for a bit, but after getting that situation under control I headed for the middle of the lake.

Once there, I dropped my oars and rested my head back. Since I was on a lake there was no threat of sharks or any other type of sea monster. The only monsters were the ones in my mind and they soon disappeared as I stared at the beauty around me.

It’s one of the only places where I am totally in the moment. No cell phone. No email. No whining kids. No nagging husband. No worries.

And then I heard my sister sneezing from across the lake. One, two, three, four, her sneezes carried across the water, interrupting my meditative state.

I had to smile. Was her experience double the pleasure of mine? Like I said, I’m not one to judge. And right then it didn’t really matter.

I closed my eyes. If only moments like this could last forever.

Photo by Betty Bishop