Just take your time—the wave comes. Let the other guys go; catch another one. —Duke Kahanamoku

July’s Muse: The Right Time

There is a small story I love, one that has held different meanings for me over the years. It was said that in ancient times, Hawaiian fishermen would not always go fishing at the same time every day. Nor would they necessarily fish every day. From a Western perspective, this might seem lazy. In fact, Hawaiians were often thought of as lazy because they did some things differently.

For Hawaiian fishermen, it was more about it being the right time. Not just every time. Even the concept of time was different. It wasn't simply about what the clock said. The tides, the ocean swells, and the weather all played a part in deciding whether it was the right time to fish. Their work followed the conditions around them rather than forcing the conditions to follow a schedule. I think about this story because I am realizing that our hope to travel to Europe in December will have to change.

Hawaiian fisherman. Photo by Joel Feld

We are still inspired to travel to Spain, to go to the area north of Barcelona, to see France, to be near the Mediterranean. I have never been to the Mediterranean Ocean, and have always wanted to go. But for us, it’s just not the right time to go fishing. We just moved. I am still looking for a job. And last week, Paul broke his wrist while riding his mountain bike. We got lucky and were able to get in for surgery on Wednesday of this week. When Paul started talking about how now we will have to wait to find a different time to travel, at first I did what I always do, and went straight to disappointment. 

But maybe that is just something I do because I haven’t allowed myself the time I need to think this through. I realize that timing matters. It’s funny, my Hawaiian fishermen story has meant different things to me at different times of my life. When I first heard it, I remember thinking, “Oh! Yes! I should be like the Hawaiian fishermen! I should be better about timing!” Then years later, I wondered, how do you even be like the Hawaiian fishermen? If you really want to do something, why do you have to wait? How do you even do that?

Street in Andalusia, Spain. Photo by Wendy Stieg

Now I get it. Are we postponing a trip, or merely finding a better time to go? What does finding a different time to go do for the trip? I know with 100% certainty and clarity that our plan to travel in December will not work. Instead of December, we will find a time in the spring. There is time. Paul needs to heal. I need to find a job. 

This realization comes on top of another realization. We had bought tickets to Missoula because we wanted to spend time with friends and see Widespread Panic, who are playing at the Kettle House in Bonner, MT. We love the Kettle House, it is one of our favorite venues. The people we were going to see are some of our favorite people. We could really use that time to blow off some steam. But that, too, means it is not the time to fish.

Ironically, several of the people we were going to see music with are in fact, professional fly fishermen. I find that kind of irony to be something that consistently shows up in my life, and you just can’t make that up! For now, fishing will just have to happen at a different time. For us, the tides and the waves are off, but like everything in life, just stick around a little longer, enjoy what is happening now, and the conditions will be right. The right time will make itself known. For me, this is the best kind of inspiration!

Costa Brava, Spain. Photo by Jametlend Reskp