6 Things Learned after Capsizing

A writer friend recently took a class on kayaking. For her first on-the-water session, practicing strokes and techniques in a bay surrounded by harbor and wharfs, she chose a sit-on-top kayak, very stable but sluggish at achieving speed. For her second outing, she chose a cockpit-style kayak, fast but oh-so-sensitive to that nasty rocking motion that can lead to . . . you know what. Here are six lessons she learned after her capsizing:

1. Careful what you wish for

When paddling the bay in the cockpit kayak, my friend ostensibly did not wish to capsize, but a secret, buried nook in her writerly brain said, “Yes! Let’s experience the whole shebang! What great grist for the writing mill!” (Or something like that.) Well, she got what she wished for, and although a character in one of her future books may experience the whole shebang, she promises to ignore that pesky daredevil voice next time.

2. Things can always be worse 

She could have panicked, flailed about, taken the (marvelously skilled) instructors down with her. She could have drowned. She did not panic, flail or drown, and now she knows how she will (hopefully) always react. She followed instructions—held onto her paddle and the kayak—while the rescuers talked her through the correct method of re-seating herself. Good job, swimmer!

3. Being wet is . . . wet

Sure, many of us go swimming, maybe snorkeling, surfing, scuba diving. However, getting your hat wet, your shirt soaked, your glasses sluiced with salt water is not so fun. Swallowing a gulp of icky water, also not fun. My friend should have held her breath, but since she wasn’t really anticipating a dunking, she wasn’t quite prepared. Something to remember next time . . . And after the wet comes the chill and the shivers. She soldiered on and kept paddling—toward the dock and into dry clothes.

4. Face your fears

How many of us challenge ourselves and try to face our fears in an adverse situation? Capsizing is usually the fear of most newbie kayakers. My friend can now say, “Been there, done that.” You can survive, you can recover, and you can capsize again—even deliberately, for training purposes (brrr). But now you’ll know your response, how you’ll cope and carry on. Priceless knowledge. 

5. Life is short, so get out there and experience it

Well, maybe not this way. But kayaking is a bucket-list item for many people, and a popular sport in my area of the world. Feel the wind tickling your face, the choppy swells smacking the bow, the water streaming through your fingers. Watch the shorebirds call and scatter, soaring a foot above the waves between kayaks. Hear the seals and the loons voicing their opinions. Smell the briny tang of ocean. And yeah, taste the water while you’re capsizing. The full monty. 

6. Publish that book while you can

This last lesson to be learned applies to you indie writers out there. While you’re underwater, gazing up in dumb bewilderment at the hull of your kayak, realize that if you don’t make it out of the water, you won’t be able to accomplish two things: you won’t be able to finish writing your latest masterpiece, and you won’t be able to publish it on Amazon or anywhere else. Your loyal fans have waited a long time for your latest tale, and you simply can’t disappoint them. So get back in your kayak.

Well, this has been a roundabout way to confess that, of course, it was I who did the capsizing. Lots of people do it, no biggie, right? And a further confession: while I was grabbing my paddle and lunging after my kayak, my feet suddenly felt sand beneath me and I stood up . . . in four feet of water. I was so close to an island that I was thrashing about on its submerged shore. I whined my annoyance to the dozen people paddling desperately toward me: if I was going to capsize and participate in a teaching moment with the class, why couldn’t it have been in really deep water? Darn it! (Although I’m sure I would have reacted with the same fearless calm even if in really deep water. Heh.) 

And since I’ve just survived death by shallow drowning*, be assured that I’ll shortly be publishing the latest installment in the Animal Guild Series: Book 9, Sev’s Vision—where it all comes together. A cast of thousands, armies on the move, magic and miracles, you know how I rock and roll. 

Climb back in your kayaks, dear swimmers, and stay afloat.

*While this post is light-hearted, any risk of capsizing should obviously be taken seriously, so proper preparation and training are a must. Take a class, wear your personal flotation device, and listen to your instructors. They know what they’re doing, and they totally rock.