Random Walks

I was reminded of our common humanity on Family Day, when not one, not two, but three cars got stuck in the sandy Kuiseb river.

We went for a family outing to the great Kuiseb river. Realizing that the car might get stuck if we go too deep, we stopped in the middle of the track and started our Braai a fair distance from the car. A second car pulled up behind us, and needed to use the same track to cross the river. In the process, their car got stuck. We helped push their car, but it was clear pretty early that it required great force to get unstuck.

Help came from the other direction, and we managed to pull the second car out of the sand with a rope. Our car then got stuck as we tried to navigate it out of the river. The help vehicle could not get it out, and also got stuck. Luckily we could push this one out without need for a car to help. After much struggle, a fourth vehicle helped our car out of the sandy river.

I was so relieved, as we were contemplating possibly sleeping in the car in the absence of help from town.

What started off as my family offering help to another family that got stuck, ended up in us having an exciting day. Everyone who showed up was there to help, and no one left the other until the last car was out. It was a spirit of teamwork and sharing ideas openly to solve a problem. We came from diverse cultures, demographics and physical abilities, but we were all united in getting the last car out despite moments of despair.

I tried offering reward to the people who helped us on the day, but they all refused. For them, the reward was helping another human in need. I relearnt the lesson that we indeed are all human, and in times of need, we can, and do pull together.

I had a schedule of tasks before I woke, but I realized that I needed to prune the task list to make sure the most important tasks get done.

I listened to an episode of the Tim Ferriss Show featuring the great Ann Miura-ko, who achieved so much with a baby, a baby on the way, doctoral research, and a job. It highlighted that you can do whatever you put your mind to it. It also showed how there are always costs that you need to reckon with. Like Paula says: you can afford anything, but not everything.

I took a long run earlier today. Sometimes slowing down leads to improvement over time. I also experimented with homemade sugar water instead of a commercial energy drink. The result was largely more positive than the last time I did a run with no energy drink.

Improvement will come with persistence and sticking with what works.

I’ve been waiting for rain to fall all summer. Living at the coast, one of the things I traded away for the cooler days is rain in the summer. Finally the elusive rain came yesterday.

The rain brings with it a lot: cooler temperatures, ability to harvest rainwater, but most crucially, renewal of life. As the fields become greener, and water sources are refilled, life is renewed for another season, whatever it’s length.

As the fields are renewed, so the soul is renewed. Just as the old grass dies or fulfills it’s role as fodder for livestock, such is the effect on the soul.