After racking up about 80 miles of paddling on small lakes, creeks and mangroves - the main common feature of which was esentially flat water - I got out on a beach. Whole different sport. Up to this point I had been treating the kayak like a sailboat or dingy from my past in which one sits and applies some force to move and control that movement. After punching out beyond the small surf zone through one to two foot breakers (which could be approached pretty much the same sit-and-paddle way) I turned beam to the waves.
It took a little while (and a little swimming) but it finally dawned on me that it's no longer sailing - me sitting in a boat that is dealing with the waves, but me dealing with the waves (via the paddle) being held up by the boat. Small but significant shift in perspective. My participation is much less passive in the kayak. Sort of like going from riding a tricycle to riding a bike. The balance etc. is quite dynamic, and moving forward helps a lot. Most important seems to be your ability to know and trust what is going to happen next, followed by knowing what your reaction should be if you don't want it to happen.
I'm beginning to understand why everyone says they are going "paddling" not "kayaking" or "boating" - I've currently gone from a Water/Boat/Person/Paddle concept to Water/Person/Paddle/Boat in that order. And can't wait to get out in active water again.
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