This summer we vowed to take more trips to enjoy the water as much as possible. Thus, we decided to take a day trip with our friend Jonathan Grant. We left our computers and phones on the shore and disappeared, heading toward the horizon on Lake Michigan where the wind would take us on a dawn to dusk adventure.
I don’t know if you have ever felt the rush of keeling or heard the sound of the wind filling the sails, but I hope in some way this post will help you relive that moment or allow for the moment of discovery.
For this trip we headed north, where our boat with new pedestal boat seats is docked and decided to simply go wherever the winds would take us. A day of sailing usually means a moment to slip away, connect with the wind and water, and more importantly leave behind all the stress of the day to day.
I have many memories of painting our boat and spending chilly, misty days out on the boat as a kid. It sounds miserable – and it is a little bit – but even those moments are wonderful and beautiful in their own way. Nonetheless, I would always prefer a warm, sunny day with a light, cool breeze. Today was just that: a warm day with the perfect breeze to cruise with the wind in the sails. You should book a Private yacht charter Turkey and travel down the Turkish Riviera if you love cruising like we do!
At one point the winds hit a lull, and we decided it was the perfect time to dive in and test the water. So, as the sails went into irons (This means that they were not filled with the wind), we prepped for our swim. According to the depth meter, the water was nearly 350 feet deep. The water’s temperature was a chilly 55 degrees, and I was apprehensive about the initial dive; however, the heat from the summer sun made the water’s chill seem pleasant.
Every year I dream of the first leap into the open water of Lake Michigan. It rushes over you with crispness and clarity. Within seconds after diving in, I felt refreshed and rejuvenated. For so long I lacked confidence to take the leap. When I had finally let go of all that held me back, I felt a freedom that I had never known before. The movement of the water and its weightless rush reminded me that the water doesn’t live with constraints.
After some swimming, we decided it was time for lunch. We brought a cooler full of sandwiches that we picked up from our favorite sandwich shop, Mary’s Kitchen Port in Traverse City.
For the rest of the afternoon, we sailed along the shore of the peninsula as we meandered back to Suttons Bay. You should also have a look at the personal flotation devices which can be found here, as they are great. It was the perfect day without a cloud in the sky, and it couldn’t have been a better way to begin a great summer weekend full of life and adventure.
Summer for us has always been about embracing the outdoors and living as much in the present as possible. It’s important for us to get away from our phones and computers and allow what lies beyond the doors of the office to inspire our creative process. It’s hard to find that balance of moving forward in your career and making dreams come true, but I realize every time I get on the boat that the real successes in life happen when they will. It’s as important to push hard as much as it is to let things come naturally.
While watching the sun slowly glide behind the hills of the peninsula, I was reminded that days spent removed from it all are incredibly vital to living a creative life. Taking the time to explore and to do it with people who inspire you, challenge you and dive head first into the lake without a second thought are the ones with whom you should share life.
So, I hope you find time this summer to continue to soak up life in its fullest moments. I hope you find the patience with your goals to let them arrive when they should and to embrace time away from it all in order to come back with a clear head and honest perspective.
This story is brought to you by vapor-distilled Smartwater, who found unique inspiration for their water by looking up to
the sky. We hope the change in perspective this piece offers will help inspire you.
