Patience & Poise

It was an early morning session at Honoli’i, our local surf spot just outside Hilotown on the Big Island of Hawai’i — “Dawn Patrol,” we called it.

The eastside sun had beat us out before we got to the break, but it was well worth watching the colors come splashing alive all around us.

I was, and still am, a newcomer to this great art of surfing.

But I was determined.

So I’d show up, flop about on my Gerry Lopez Costco soft-top special, and maybe, just maybe, if the fates were feeling especially gracious that day, I might even catch a wave or two.

Then, I’d float around the bay, soaking up the majesty of the ocean blues, the flora greens, the silvered clouds, the golden rays, and the ever-undulating enchantment of the Hamakua coastline, and sway side to side, sketching a smile from ear to ear at the stunning blessing of this life.

Well, that particular morning, I’d already done my fair share of flopping, falling, & feigning control, when I plopped up next to an older Hawaiian gentleman, greyed by the grains of the sun & the salt — sharing some sweetwater wisdom with my dear friend, Drew.

“Look, boy. You get patience, yeah? I see you out here, you take your time, you wait for the right wave, I see you try not rush things too much. That’s real good.”

“But what you need to learn now, is Poise.”

“Poise, huh? What do you mean by that, uncle?”

^{As an aside, one of my favorite aspects of living in Hawai’i was how we’d refer to our elders as “uncle” or “auntie,” which inherently nurtured a special sense of familiarity & community among us.}

Surf guru uncle continued on:

“Patience, it’s great, yeah. It’s necessary. There’s a reason we even call it a ‘virtue.’ Without it, we can rush into all kine things making boneheaded decisions that get us in more trouble we like.

But, bradda, if we’re always waiting, always watching, then we may not be ready when the moment finally arrives — that moment that we’ve been so patiently waiting for.

That’s where Poise comes in. To be poised, boy, is to be ready. To meet that wave when it comes, and then, to act. To not hesitate, because you know you’re prepared.”

“You too, bradda.”

And to my surprise, he swung his glance over at me.

“I see you out here, falling. That’s okay. That’s still surfing. You’re learning. So join your friend here and learn this too.”

“Patience allows us to see all of this,” his arm swept open across the coastline before us, “to find peace in it, to find our place in it, our time in it.”

“Poise allows us to bring that peace into action. It empowers us to meet the opportunity when it arrives and ride it to full expression.”

“And it sure would be a shame not to,” he added with a glinting smile as he turned his gaze gleefully to the vast ocean, nodding to the incoming set of waves about to greet us all grinning.

“Now here’s your chance for some practice, boys.”

“Cheeeehoooo!” he cried out as he spun himself sideways, aptly angling himself for the approaching swell; and in two short sweeps of arms, knees, & soul, he was off cruising into the glimmering glory breaking before us.

Drew and I turned to each other and shared a chuckle of awe, acknowledging the profound pearls that were just passed on to us and we so eagerly received.

Then, we spun ourselves around to put uncle’s wisdom to practice.

Patience. Poise. Expression. Peace.

Reflections for Growth

Catching Your Wave: In what areas of your life do you need to "catch the wave"? How can you balance waiting with readiness, ensuring you are poised to act when the right moment arrives?

Embodying Poise: Reflect on the word “poise.” How can you practice this quality not only in moments of decision but in your day-to-day life, maintaining calm and readiness throughout?

Cultivating Peace in Action: How can you move from a state of peace to purposeful action? In which areas of your life have you tended to wait a bit too long before taking action and in what areas do you feel most poised to make that shift?

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Invitations for Practice

Poised Preparation: Choose one area of your life where you're waiting for an opportunity. What can you do this week to prepare yourself, so that when the moment arrives, you’re ready to move forward with poise?

Balancing the Wait & the Wave: In any task or decision you’re facing this week, practice balancing patience with poise. Reflect on how this duality helps you navigate the process with more ease and effectiveness.

Life on Ten: Cultivating Poise for Your Next Chapter

In life, just as in surfing, we benefit from a balance of both patience & poise — the readiness to act when the moment arrives. My new Life on Ten Coaching Program is designed to help cultivate that very poise, so you're prepared to take meaningful action when opportunities arise — and they will.

If you’ve been waiting for the right time to step into your next level, this is your wave.

Apply now to one of the remaining spots in Life on Ten, or share this invitation with someone who could benefit from greater purpose, presence, balance, & poise as they move towards their goals and visions.

Thanks, as always, for tuning in and sharing these moments of wisdom, reflection, & growth with me.

Wishing you plenty of enlightening waves ahead,

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