Tag: Tide

Battered Protector

by Ebb Then Flood

20190629_223535

Wooden groyne at a small beach on Auckland’s Tamaki River.

Groynes are structures that are supposed to prevent shoreline erosion by trapping sand and sediment moved by sea tides.

Pretty evidently,this specimen has seen better days.

Years of protecting the shore against wind and waves have taken a toll. Bits of the structure are gone but it still protects the coast.

Parallel with humans exist – worn down,carers and protectors amongst us can eventually suffer from “compassion fatigue” ,and worse.

If that sounds like you, please remember to shore up your own timbers before fighting the tide -take care of yourself as a priority!

 

As You Get To It

by Ebb Then Flood

IMG_0320 (4).JPG

A beautiful scene on the west coast of New Zealand’s North Island.

But fraught with obstacles – countless rocks, the incessant surf ,tidal rips and undulating topography.

Were you to venture to the headland in the distance, that would pretty much be your lot the entire way.

Challenging, yes?

Consider this,from American inventor Joy Mangano:

“Overcome obstacles  one at a time. Sometimes the end goal becomes too daunting, so take things one step at a time and overcome each one as you get to it.”

I recently watched the 2015 movie ‘Joy’,loosely based on her  life, as the protagonist battled continual setbacks and frustrations to market( of all freaking things) a revolutionary mop to the masses.

Certainly an eye opener on how to tackle obstacles. I winced every time things went pear-shaped, but she got what she wanted eventually.

Most worthwhile journeys we would probably never embark on if we could see at the outset all the barriers and pitfalls that we would encounter .

Joy’s simple mantra is the only realistic way to reach our dream destination.

Time And Tide

by Ebb Then Flood

20190113_213754.jpg

“Never give up, for that is just the time and place that the tide will turn”.

– Harriet Beecher Stowe

The tide clock above sat on the wall of a beach  house we stayed at a few days ago. It simply told us when was best to swim in the ocean or to gather cockles in the estuary. Of course ,the tides of life are not so predictable. This blogsite is not called ‘Ebb Then Flood’ for nothing. One will surely follow the other but the timing and length of the stages in the  cycle are frankly a guessing game and  beyond our control. Stowe exhorts persistence – I think recognition of the phase your are in and acceptance of it are part of the equation too. Scrape the barnacles off the hull on the ebb tide, strap yourself to the mast when the flood tide hits and prepare for the ride!