Day 24 Bellhaven to Oriental, NC

It was a rough ride against the wind and waves today. Hours of rocking and banging had us exhausted by the time we made it to Oriental, NC. It is very small, quaint town with beautiful homes and unique shops. We sat at the tiki bar, ate at the Toucan restaurant, and explored the area.

We have decided to stay here an extra day to give the boat and our bodies a break. When you are in a boat with a destination and a timeline you keep going once you set out unless it is dangerous so even though it was a very uncomfortable ride we kept going.  At one point I lay on the bench in the cockpit and decided I needed a mental break with a little meditation.  My mother was a yoga instructor and taught me her favorite easy meditation.  Here is a funny story about my beginnings with this practice:

Meditating in nature

It was the end of the summer and the air was cool. This was the perfect time to enjoy the goats in the field where the cool air and the breeze dissuaded bugs from feeding on every ounce of my blood. I had been practicing meditation and was really excited about meditating among the animals out in nature. I found a nice seat in the fallen pine needles in the middle of the field.The goats were very interested in my presence but I knew after a time they would lose their curiosity, especially with the realization that I had no treats.

I got down on the ground and crossed my legs in front of me. I touched index fingers to my thumbs to make an 'O' while I rested the back of each hand on my knees. I closed my eyes. I could hear the goats roaming and crunching on brush that had begun to fall. The breeze fluttered the leaves in a beautiful song of nature. A few goats nearby were chewing cud while lying in the sun and I could hear the rhythmic sounds of their secondary digestion. I took in deep breaths through my nose letting my stomach push out to give my diaphragm room as my lungs expanded with the inhalation. Then I pushed out air through my mouth in a noisy exhalation.

Once I was settled I began a chant my mother had taught me, "SA-TA-MA-NA". I said this allowed softly and with each phrase I touched the next finger on my hand with my thumb. "SA": pointer and thumb. "TA": middle and thumb. "MA": ring and thumb. "NA": pinky and thumb. I did this ten times. And the breeze continued to play its song. The goats continued browsing and chewing their cud nearby.

After the tenth chant I must recite these same phrases but only in my head, "SA-TA-MA-NA". I heard the snap of a twig as the breeze continued to move the treetops. The cool air moved lightly across my face and over the skin on my arms. My fingers moved to touch my thumbs with each phrase. I continued to breathe in deeply through my nose and out my mouth. Ten more chants out loud would finish the series and I could start over. "SA","TA", "MA", "NA", I recited louder than the first time. The clean air filling my lungs through my nose. My stomach moving out as I inhaled deeply.

At that point I was fully relaxed and present. In the moment. 

That is when a local driver passing our farm decided to lay on his horn like an irate New York cabbie who'd just been cut off. Although the goats were used to living by a busy road, this noise was unexpected and uncommon. Under normal circumstances Buttercup, my impressively sized Lamancha goat, is the head goat and everyone would refer to her for their next move. However, when I am available, I am the head goat. Because of this, they all came running to me.

I took this as a challenge. If I could remain meditating than I truly would reach a new level. I refrained from yelling obscenities at the stupid horn blowing imbecile. I did not jump up and hurl a bottle at his car nor come up with a scheme for slashing his tires. I thanked him for the opportunity to do better. I would be a better person by overcoming this challenge.

The goats looked on for my reaction. I breathed in fully. I made no movements except my fingers, "SA-TA-MA-NA". Their faces searched mine. Their soft muzzles going over my cheeks, my forehead, my nose, my ears. I felt seven goats surround me as my eyes remained closed and I tried to remain focused. "SA-TA-MA-NA". I was doing it, I was remaining relaxed and focused! As a result the goats, too, began to relax.

When you scare an animal there is a physical reaction. Senses are heightened, adrenaline flows, and butt cheeks clench as the body prepares for fight or flight. 

Once the threat is gone, the body relaxes, the adrenaline dissipates, the butt cheeks relax. So, as I sat cross legged on my bed of pine needles with my fingers poised to do another round of chanting and the seven goats around me in a perfect circle, I began to breathe in a different kind of air. The sound of smelly little droppings falling from their hind ends overpowered the music in the wind and I was given a new challenge. I had been practicing meditation and was really excited about meditating among the animals out in nature. Even now that idea makes me laugh.