The Master observes the world
but trusts his inner vision.
He allows things to come and go.
His heart is open as the sky.

Tao Te Ching - Verse 12
(Translated by Stephen Mitchell)
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I’ve been waking up in time to make it to the beach for sunrise and the skies have been nothing short of gorgeous paintings. This morning I paddled out on the surfboard and simply floating offshore as the sun came over the horizon made me feel closer to this phenomenon than I’ve ever been before. The thought, “Why haven’t I been doing this all my life?” came to mind. Soon after that, I rode my first legitimate wave and was hooked on the lifestyle.

I lived in South Florida eight years prior and I felt like this place chewed me up and spat me out after a couple years. I was apprehensive to return, but opportunity knocked and my inner vision seemed to be calling me back, so I trusted the intuition. No regrets whatsoever.

Although the friends I thought I had here seemed to disappear, I let go of the attachment to my expectations and new friends have come into the picture since then. I’m loving where I live more and more as the days go by, and, to quote Mitchell’s last line here, I try to keep my heart as open as the sky.

I attribute much of my shift in attitude and expectations to studying religions like Taoism. Ancient wisdom like, “Observe the world but trust your inner vision,” will never expire.