Riding the Current by Angela Greenman
My hairstylist is vivacious, witty, and fun to be around. Her energetic laughter bounces off the salon walls as she zips out joke after joke. Recently she surprised me by saying she was a hundred pages into my debut thriller. Turning to face me, she said, “I expected the book to be good, knowing you—but not this good.”
“What do you mean?” I asked.
“Well, you’re so calm. Nothing seems to ruffle you.”
I didn’t reply but pondered her words. My action-packed story is anything but calm, so I could see her point.
She shrugged. “I just have to joke and be upbeat.” Her face darkened. “Everything seems to be so troubled, it’s upsetting. I have to break that cycle. I don’t know how you stay so content and confident.”
I had no answer.
The next day I caught up with a dear friend who asked about my experience with the publishing business. I shared examples of the piracy through illegal downloads of books and other ways authors are penalized financially. Shaking her head, she said, “It makes you want to give it up, doesn’t it? How do you do it, keep going, staying with it?”
I stayed quiet, not knowing how to reply.
The following morning, I sat by my lakeside window. I’m fortunate to spend summers in the North Country surrounded by woods and water. A large shadow swept by—an eagle amid the blue sky. With long beak extended and massive wings spread wide, its impressive form seemed motionless.
No movement. Just its might as it rode the air current, focusing on what was ahead and surveying what was below.
The eagle dipped closer to the water and then rose again, catching the updraft. Yet its wings didn’t flap, nor did its head bend, or body flail.
The intelligent bird didn’t waste precious energy while hunting for food—it took advantage of nature’s powerful forces.
I had my answer.
From my troubled childhood, I had learned to ride the current … the powerful force in nature that says the strongest will survive.
I had overcome some of the worst conditions. I had become that mighty bird who discovers being atop the food chain means you only come down to fight when it matters.
We all can be like that magnificent eagle who stays calm—by looking forward.
We all can be that majestic bird, staying strong by surveying the past, but then immediately rising up from it—wisely letting it go so we are not weakened by its mire.
So now if someone asks, I can recommend taking a lesson from an eagle: There is no cycle to break or reason to quit. Rise up and ride on the force of all that you’ve learned.
Here’s hoping to see you on the updraft!
Angela Greenman (author of The Child Riddler)
