Five Life Lessons I Found Between the Waves in Cornwall

I spent the weekend bodyboarding in Cornwall earlier this month. It's my third year going back to Newquay and joining the "Women & Waves" team, because I love bodyboarding. Being in the water, catching a wave? There's no feeling like it!

1. Resistance Isn't Always a Sign You're Going the Wrong Way

The first challenge wasn't catching waves. It was getting out to them. Every step into the water was met with resistance. Waves pushed back. Currents pulled sideways. Progress felt slow and frustrating particularly when I was attempting to use fins this time, rather than jump and catch!

It's easy in life to interpret resistance as a warning sign. If something feels hard, maybe it's not meant to be. But paddling, waiting, starting again reminded me that resistance is often just part of moving towards something worthwhile.

The waves weren't trying to stop me. They were simply being waves. Sometimes life is the same. The challenge isn't evidence that we're on the wrong path. It's just the nature of the thing we're trying to do.

2. Not Everything Comes Easy

I've always admired people who make things look effortless.

The reality, of course, is that most worthwhile things aren't effortless at all. Bodyboarding isn't! Timing the waves, reading the conditions, positioning myself correctly, knowing when to paddle and when to wait—none of it came naturally. There were plenty of missed opportunities and more than a few wipeouts!

It reminded me that there's a difference between wanting to be good at something and being willing to be bad at it first. Growth rarely arrives wrapped in comfort. Most skills require patience, repetition and a willingness to look a little foolish while learning. There's photographic and video evidence and plenty of witnesses where that was the case at Fistral!

3. The People Around You Matter More Than You Think

One of the best parts of the weekend wasn't the waves. It was the people. Being surrounded by encouraging, experienced and positive people changes everything. They help you see opportunities you would have missed, give confidence when you're hesitant and make challenges feel more enjoyable. I've noticed the same thing away from the beach.

The people around us influence our thinking, our ambitions and even our willingness to try new things. The right people don't carry us through difficult moments, but they make us believe we can get through them ourselves.

Who we spend our time with matters.

4. Unlearning Is Just As Important As Learning

Whenever we talk about growth, we usually focus on learning more. Learn a new skill. Read another book. Gain more knowledge. But sometimes progress requires letting go of something we've already learned.

A few times in the water I found myself holding onto habits that weren't helping. Wearing fins in the water means catching a wave in a different way to what I'd been used to...what had come more easily!

Life often works the same way. We outgrow assumptions, beliefs and approaches that once served us well. Learning helps us move forward, but unlearning often creates the space to do it. Trying something different.

5. People Respond Better to Curiosity Than Instructions

One thing I've learned about myself is that I don't particularly enjoy being told what to do. The moment someone starts issuing orders, part of me instinctively pushes back.

What I do appreciate is gentle enquiry. Questions. Options. Choices. The best guidance I received over the weekend wasn't someone saying, "Do this."

It was more like, "We think you should try with fins this time!" from the wonderful coaches at the start of day 1!

That approach creates ownership. It respects autonomy while still offering support.

The lesson extends far beyond bodyboarding. Whether we're leading teams, supporting friends or simply having conversations, curiosity often achieves what instruction cannot.

Questions invite people in. Commands can push them away.

Final Thoughts

I went to Cornwall expecting a weekend in the sea. I came back with sore muscles, a renewed respect for the ocean and a handful of reminders that feel surprisingly relevant to everyday life.

• Resistance is part of progress.

• Not everything comes easy.

• The people around us matter.

• Sometimes we need to unlearn before we can grow.

• And when it comes to helping others, a thoughtful question can be far more powerful than a direct instruction.

Not bad for a couple of days chasing waves and doing something that brings me so much joy!