Surfing The Storm Surge

Last night was a long and anxious one for the residents of eastern England, especially the area from Norfolk to the River Thames - they'd been told to prepare for the worst storm surge in more than 50 years.

A storm surge is what happens when a strong wind from the north or north west coincides with a really high tide. The reason why that matters is the shape of the country - its position in relation to Europe creates a comparatively narrow channel for all that energy to pass through.

It works like a funnel... and it makes the storm surge very powerful indeed.

These storm surges generally happen about every 20 years, apparently. They can be pretty scary, but they don't usually do a lot of damage.

This one, though, was expected to be different. The Environment Agency (part of the UK government) was warning local residents that the conditions were just right for this particular storm surge to be just about as bad as the infamous storm surge of 1953.

On January 31 and February 1 of that year, the country was swept by gales - just at the time of a massively high spring tide. The result was one of the worst disasters in the UK's peacetime history.

The gales started in the west, went round the north of Scotland, then swept down the east coast of England with a ferocity no-one had ever seen before.

From the River Tees, on the border between County Durham and North Yorkshire, to the Thames, the great river of London, the sea surged up to 2 miles inland. 307 people living in the coastal towns and villages within its path were killed.

133 passengers and crew on the ferryboat Princess Victoria drowned when the ship capsized in the Irish Sea. That included every one of the women and children on board, who'd been put, apparently safely, into lifeboats... which were then sucked into the maelstrom caused by the propellers as the big ship wallowed, helpless, on its side.

The waves at Ness Point, the most easterly part of the UK, rose to 20 feet. 177 fishermen, at sea when the storm hit, had no chance of survival.

On land, the sea smashed through the flood defenses in 1,000 places. 24,000 homes were damaged, and 30,000 people moved to safety. In today's money, the cost ran into millions.

Small wonder, then, that when the Environment Agency warned of "extreme danger to life and property" last night, people were alarmed. Many were evacuated from their homes; others stayed, but spent the night in fear.

In the early hours of this morning, a number of people went out to see the wild conditions for themselves. It was an unexpected sight that met their eyes.

Six surfers, lured by the prospect of the highest waves in over half a century, had taken to the water and were quite literally riding out the storm. They were clearly loving every minute of it. (Interviewed afterwards, one of them nonchalantly described the conditions as "pretty good - although the waves aren't the highest!")

My point in telling you this isn't to disrespect the people whose lives were lost or devastated back in 1953, or to downplay the very real and reasonable fears of the east coast residents last night.

Far from it. The prospect of a major disaster was all too genuine.

The point is that I can't off-hand think of a better example of reframing - the mind technique that lets you see the positive and energizing side of a situation you would rather not be in.

Where most people, very understandably, saw only fear and danger, 6 people saw a golden opportunity - a chance to do something most others could only dream about. Every surfer longs to find the biggest wave, and here was their big chance to do exactly that. They weren't going to waste it.

How many things that in your life could use reframing? How many things you've always thought were difficult or frightening, unpleasant or distasteful can you now see have the seeds of opportunity within them?

You might not have the answer right now, but spend a little time in thinking of it. Next time something happens that annoys you or frustrates you, disappoints you or causes you unhappiness, ask yourself what other ways there are of looking at it that will make you feel excited and empowered.

If you're upset about a relationship that's ended, don't forget that also means you're free to find yourself someone a lot more loving. If you hate your job, isn't that the greatest motivation you could have to find another one, or change career, or even strike out on your own?

If people facing a repeat of one of the worst disasters in their country's peacetime history can see it as exciting, and a major opportunity to do what they love best, you can.

Throw off your inhibitions, throw away your fears, and embrace your opportunities for your Supreme Success.

P.S. The storm surge peaked a whole lot lower than expected, and the east coast residents are now returning safely to their homes. It turns out that the surfers had the right idea.