#387: SPOTLIGHT: Frank Tate
#387: Frank Tate
May 7, 2024
A Backbeat of Community
Question for Frank:
Can you recall a specific moment in the last four months that you were in what you would consider to be “nature” and thought or felt for at least a split second that “maybe all is actually right with the world” ?
Frank's Response:
February 14th of this year I started my day at 3am Hawaii time, negotiating a payout for my friend. I was beyond frustrated with the client, as they were trying to get out of paying for work they had approved and that my friend had over delivered on…
6am finally rolled around which is when I go to what I lovingly refer to as Paddle Church, also known as 6 man outrigger canoeing.
Because of the chaos I was navigating at work I decided to get in the double hull (12 man canoe), instead of my normal seat 3 in the six man canoe. This would allow me to process my frustrations in the safety of 11 incredibly kind souls, who also love starting their day on the water.
My hope was that their positive energy would provide some much needed perspective, so I could negotiate the settlement with love and honor, rather than the frustration I was feeling.
The canoe was working its healing magic on the way out to our two mile turn around, as the sun rising over the volcano turned the water into a gorgeous sea of turquoise and blue, that honestly felt like God was showing off. :)
The combination of the sun's warmth, the water's beauty and the joyful energy emanating from the 11 other beautiful souls in the canoe managed to transform my frustration with the client into a heartfelt desire to find a win-win solution to the tension both sides were feeling.
That amount of interacting with nature was a brilliant gift, but didn’t quite qualify for me thinking "all is actually alright with the world”... until the 3.5 mile mark, when we heard a thunderous crash and looked up just in time to see a huge momma Humpback teaching her baby how to breach.
We all stopped paddling just in time to experience their epic encore, as they swam directly under our canoe then breached again on our left side.
Nature’s gift of the whales breaching, in that gorgeous water, with those beautiful souls turned my temporary frustrations into eternal awe and reminded me that, while not everything is right in the world, I certainly possess the power to make the things in my control right, IF I have the courage to chase the extraordinary and live Serve First lives.
Much Aloha,
FT
PS You are all cordially invited to join me for Paddle Church, if you’re ever in Kona :)
Amanda’s thought…
I suspect Frank would love all direct responses from you. I find it incredibly encouraging when I hear from any of you after I share my thoughts. It is powerful for me. I assume many others have a similar experience. So here is Frank's email… pip
Frank, there was so much that moved me while reading this that I'm not even sure where to start. I love your reminder of shifting focus to not what is wrong in the world but instead to making the things in control right. I needed to hear that today. I also feel so grateful to have experienced Paddle Church with you and the kind souls in your group this spring. But above all, I am grateful for the person you are and our friendship. Wishing a very special birthday week to you Frank!
- AP
