Life is Like a Manta Ray

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Manta Rays can be huge, easily 20 foot wing span and they fly through the water like an extremely large eagle type bird.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manta_ray

If you’re in the ocean and you can’t see the bottom, sometimes, you can see just the white part of the Manta, in really deep water. The actual bottom could be 300 feet or more below you.  You won’t see the dark part of the top of the ray, because the bottomless ocean is dark.

Like when life happens and you’re just in that “it is what it is” state of survival.  You’re happy to be breathing and you’re pleased to not be hitting the bottom.

For me, I know I can swim.  I know I can’t fly.  I choose SCUBA over hang gliding/parachuting/zip lining any day!

Back to our story:  You’re just swimming and swimming and swimming and hoping for something fantastic, and looking for it…those big wings and white pattern, and you’re hoping that the Manta will come to you so you can cross paths, since you certainly can’t chase the Manta down to 300 feet or more where the bottomless bottom exists.

Sometimes, like “the one that got away” you never see more than that white pattern in the wee dark distance.  When you talk to other divers on the surface, maybe some will have shared the grand sighting; the glimmer of amazing.  Maybe some will think you made up your fish tale.

When the planets align and life is great, the Manta will come to you, to your level, and then you can see the gentle graceful giant fly by you, over you, around you, circle you….unbelievable!

Believe it or not, some of the turkeys (haters, naysayers, etc.) who might have thought you created the fish tale will miss that too.  Same space, same dive, but you got the gift.  Like Frodo got the ring.  Huzzah!  You swam for it, you worked for it, and you need to take it in and appreciate it with gratitude.  Just like the results from getting fit and healthy.  You earned it!

So should we stop swimming?  Nah

Should we stop looking?  Nah

Should we give up and say “Bah, it’s just too deep, I’ll never see one”…

Should I have given up when I weighed over 300 lbs?

Should I have given up when the doctors told me, “Oh you’ll always be fat”

Should I have given up after every corporate lay off?

Forrest Gump said “You never know what you’re gonna get!”

and in the words of the great fish Dory,  “Just Keep Swimming!”

 

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