//choose//

During pre-trip prep, a whitewater rafting guide shared important reminders about listening, bouncing off rocks, and paddling. He also shared priceless wisdom.

“Your job is to do what I say right away,” he said. “When I yell ‘hard forward,’ then really dig in. If you hear ‘back,’ then paddle like we’re going in reverse. Anyone know why we will do that?”

“Because you tell us to?” said someone attempting humor. The guide ignored the comment.

“We need to control our speed. The only way to navigate is to make our raft go faster than the water or slower than the water. When we go the same speed as the current, we go wherever the river wants to take us.”

Those words proved invaluable to pilot a class 5 river -- and to navigate life. Go the same speed as everyone around you, and you go wherever the crowd takes you. Prepare to hit rocks. Figure out how and when to dig in or slow down, though, and the journey turns exhilarating. Your choice.

©Copyright 2021, David Staal, all rights reserved