This is the post where I was meant to give you some gift ideas for surfer girls. So you can pass the wish list on to Santa. Of course, I would only pass on tried and tested gift ideas.
So I reflected upon the best Christmas Gift I’ve received in the most recent years. And I realised the best present of late was a present I’ve given to myself. You’ll probably don’t guess what it was, as from the outset it’s only remotely connected to surfing but then it’s what surfing is all about.
In fact, it was a 10-day meditation course. Or meditation torture as I thought of it at the time. Ten days of no talking (believe it or not, that part was fairly easy), two meals a day and only two pieces of fruit for dinner (that almost killed me), no phone, no internet, no books, no writing, no nothing, of course no surfing as the course happened to be in the mountain and the worst of all, away from my beloved husband. Just me and my meditation pillow that felt more like a concrete block after sitting on it for ten hours a day in silent meditation.
I know I’m not quite selling it in at this stage. It was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done in my life. But you know what… it was so worth it. For the first time ever, I’ve spent Christmas in quiet reflection. I was truly unplugged from the world and in the process I’ve re-connected to myself. I’ve had a really good rest and had the best start into the New Year.
When I got out it felt like someone had pressed a reset button inside me. I never felt so present before. When I stepped on the sand for the first time in ten days, totally relaxed, calmed down and not fazed by the crazy world around me, I could feel every single grain of sand between my toes. It was such a strange and yet familiar feeling. And I still remember the feeling of immersing myself in the ocean for the first time after the meditation, which felt like it was the first time ever. The water felt so smooth and silky and soft at the same time. That’s what it must feel like for a kid who experiences the beach for the first time.
Now I do realise that a 10-day meditation over Christmas is not everyone’s cup of tea and I’m not suggesting you do it. I guess it’s just a little reminder to not get too much sucked into the shopping frenzy in the name of Christmas and the so-called silly season.
And maybe one of the presents you give to yourself and your loved ones is not something you can buy. Maybe it’s worth giving them something that’s becoming more and more precious these days: Presence. As in being present…your undivided attention.
Here are just a few ideas:
- Take your little sis (bro, auntie, niece, grannie) to the beach, pop her on a board, push her in the whitewash and watch the smile on her face when she catches her first wave.
- Go on your roadtrip with your besties. Make it a roadie without selfies.
- Go for a surf and catch some waves J
Happy Holidays, beautiful Gidgets!
Claudia
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