Wave by Wave is the title of my new book, where I share what a major life change,
from living in Stockholm to living and sailing around the world – has done to me.
In this series of articles, I will share and reflect on my biggest lessons.
In Part 5, I will share my thoughts on challenges and what helped me deal with them.
***
“Did Anything Scary Happen?”
That’s the most common question I get when I talk about our sailing around the world. People often think of storms and if something broke on the yacht. And yes, of course it did. Many times. “There’s always something”, as we say in the yachting world.
Sailing the oceans is truly an adventure with many challenges. Never in my life have I been exposed to so much risk. The price of the insurance is proof in itself – at least ten times more than what we paid at home.
We have been in all sorts of weather, things have broken, we have been hit by other boats twice, and four times we have come close to ending the trip. On top of that, we have let go of most of our belongings, and we have our own inner storms and those between us. So things happen all the time.
Arthur has been close to death twice. The first time I was present, standing in shock on the aft deck and staring at him drifting further and further out of Vista into the current. To no avail at all. Still terrible to think about. Once again, we felt that we were watched over by angels.
We Are Part of the Existence
As in all fairy tales, help is there when you need it most. We were committed to sail home safely, and we feel we have received so much support for this. In one way or another, there is always someone or something that brightens the situation. Out on the oceans, we felt the presence of the enormous existence that our planet Earth circles. The stars reminded us. Birds and dolphins came and visited us even when we were far from land. The sun shone through after days of rough weather – lifting our spirits and strengthening our hope.
I don’t know how many times I have sat in the cockpit and watched BIG waves, at first afraid of being knocked down, but pretty quickly feeling the blessing of being carried, of being part of this wild and unknown.
Out in the Pacific, we were told to sail to Papeete, leave the yacht and fly home (due to the lockdown). Worrying, of course, but the beautiful Pacific took care of it, and the gentle breezes and vaults of the sky quickly put us in a different mood.
We belong and are cared for. This is also true for those who live in a city. The big difference is that I know it now.
Life Is Cyclical
I have learned so much about existence. It is so obvious that man does not rule the world, even though we may think so. Existence reminds me of the cycles of life – day and night, light and darkness, low tide and high tide, flat seas with no wind, to gale and high waves. And then the longer cycles like the cyclone seasons, often six months.
It makes me think about where I am in my own cycles. At the beginning or at the end? At a low point or at a high point? The waves are great teachers in this subject. We cannot do without both. Life is in motion, up and down, wave by wave. The low points can never last forever. They are meant to move on, or like rain clouds letting go. How boring wouldn’t life be without waves and movement! It’s in the downs, the turns happen.
We, too, will continue forward in line with our commitment and our intention.
Saying Yes to What Is
With all the potential risks, I must be present in what is. In presence, there is no judgment. What is is. Be with it. Breathe. It will pass. There is no room to be anywhere else. As Byron Katie so wisely put it: there are only three businesses – mine, yours, and God’s. I need to be in mine, or I will fall into the open sea.
The big interest of the scary parts, I think, have a deeper layer, namely – will scary things happy if I take on a big dream, and will I handle them? The answer is yes, according to my experience of the existence.
What is your dream?
If you would like some more inspiration on the topic, I invite you to buy Wave by Wave.
I have included questions to reflect on after each chapter.
Yes, have a wonderful week!
Happy regards from Anna
8 June 2025
Wave by Wave at Adlibris
Wave by Wave at Amazon
Part 1 – Commitment Is Crucial
Part 2 – A Life We Love
Part 3 – Letting Go and Lighten Up
Part 4 – Inviting the NEW