Walks, waves and words

Recently I was approached by Mr Warick Brown from the Surf Coast Times, stating that his readers would love to know what motivates me; I agreed provided I could write it.

To understand what I do and why is to know a life.

As a boy in the 1960s I liked people. Talking to them on the street with my mother, people would stop to converse; later she would question me about them. I couldn’t always remember their names, much less the details she required. I only knew I liked them and that was enough. I was at one with them and the world; in those simpler times, there was time.

Time passed, the demands of study and then career. Time pressed; duties, debts, the difficulties of modern life, in a world increasingly odd, where people became problems. There was no time, time had me.

External conflicts in work and life led to internal questioning beyond career, deeper to existence itself and in a low moment, with neither answers nor choice, attempted suicide.

The respite, reflection and recovery that followed led to a return of the earlier me.

While I would never say that my actions are a cure of lifelong depression, these simple, physical actions of walking, waving and talking to people mitigate its worst short-term effects and consequences.

Though the nights can still be bad; the morning light and salty air combined with a walk, a wave and word, work wonders.

Time to close, with a lot of thanks, and a little hope.

My thanks to the paper for its interest in, and the opportunity to write directly to, the wonderful people of the Surf Coast; who with their kind words, broad smiles and returned waves have given me more than I have to them.

The young boy is now an old boy, but gone full circle; now I make time to be me.

Time to walk, wave and talk to people, and pat as many dogs as possible. My hope is that in your busy day, you can find time to be you.

– Peter the Wave Man

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