We recently took our children and grandchildren on a weeklong cruise to the Bahamas. I’m not usually a fan of massive cruise ships with their endless buffets and crowds, but it was a convenient, affordable way to get everyone together.
During the time when the little ones and their parents were off visiting the splash pad and water slides, I had time to sit on the balcony and look out over the ocean. I kept scanning the water for a whale to break the surface (or, if I were so lucky, a pod of whales). I’ve seen the videos, the Reels, the documentaries. But never, not once in my life, have I seen a whale in person.
Instead of whales, I saw an endless seascape of waves and water in varying shades. It was mesmerizing and relaxing… but no whales, no matter how much energy I put into willing them into existence.
I could fly to areas—like Cape Cod, Sri Lanka, Antarctica, or Alaska—where whale watching is an actual thing and still not see any whales. But I wondered why, in the collective times and places travelling, I had never seen “my” whale.
Just like spotting whales, Chapter X offers opportunity, but not guarantees. All you can do is put yourself in the best position to find the joy that’s actually within your control.
