BOAT RIDE
Leaving on the final day was a bit emotional for us all. Saying by to the serene ambiance of the resort, the beautiful coconut trees, the waters and the food served that was fit for kings. When the boat came to pick us, even the ‘captain’ of our speedboat could feel the joy we had and decided to join in the excitement by displaying some dangerous speeding skills. It was amusing as some people hailed him even though we were in competition with no one.
Then our boat suddenly stopped.
Right in the middle of nowhere there we were with our live jackets not having a clue what had gone wrong. Our ‘captain’ touched a few cables while attempting to restart the engine but the boat didn’t start. Anxiety was increasing but no one said a word. Stranded on the same spot it suddenly dawned on us how strong the currents were, something we didn’t pay attention to all along while we were speeding. The currents were so strong that, they felt like they could topple the boat if provoked just a little. The worried look on our Captain’s face didn’t help matters.
Interestingly, I wasn’t really perturbed by all the happenings. Somehow, I just felt this was yet
another experience that was going to culminate in another article and another story to share. Someone raised a new song and everyone just joined as though the worship song was written for this particular situation. I could see a few people muttering some prayers under their breaths. It became even scarier when the Captain stretched himself to reach under the boat and almost fell over trying to reach for something. Eventually, he discovered the problem. The waters were very dirty and some debris had gotten stuck to blades. It was resolved in a few minutes and though we were all relieved, the rest of the ride was a very solemn one.
We arrived on land and all said our goodbyes.
Sometimes in life things do not pan out exactly as we plan. While, we can make quick adjustments to some, for others the solutions may not be within our reach. It’s not really what happens to you that matters it is how you respond to the situation. Much later, one of them told me he actually wanted to leave the safety of the boat and jump into the sea. I said but you couldn’t possibly swim from that far to land. He smiled and said I can’t even swim at all.
The pandemic has caused major disruptions in the world and altered our lives in more ways than one. It is not what has happened that matters, it is really how you respond to the situation that matters. Think on your toes…think fast. Right now it is hot-step-jump. Do a quick appraisal of yourself and be honest enough to take the right steps and make the right decisions. It might not be the best, but ensure you don’t lose sight of your destination. It is a tough lesson for us all but the truth is if it is not the pandemic, it could be anything at any time.BOA