Recently, we went to Moab to visit and hang out with some amazing people. I didn’t realize how needed and rejuvenating this trip would be for me, let alone how many lessons I would learn. As I gather my thoughts about the entire weekend, I will share my lessons with you in the hopes that you can learn something from them.
My first lesson came from rafting down the Colorado River. As we were gathered around the Duckies having our safety talk, our guide told us the river was flowing at 11,000 cubic feet per second. To me, that number didn’t mean much until she put it in perspective of 11,000 basketballs going past you every second…..yes, EVERY SECOND! That is when it hit me how fast the river was really moving.
We then got into our Duckies and paddled away. While we were at a part of the river where we could just float, my mind began to wonder and I remembered a quote I heard on the drive down by the Greek philosopher, Heraclitus. “No man steps into the same river twice, for it is not the same river and he is not the same man.”
About half way on our trip, we pulled off on a beach and had some snacks, drank some Rosé in a bag and talked about the symbolism of the river. That is when I found my lessons from the Colorado River.
First, like the river, life will keep moving. Sometimes, it will be at a slower pace and sometimes, it will be much faster. Whatever challenge you come across today will be different tomorrow. Hang in there and let it pass by you.
Next, when you come across some rapids, rough spots in your life, keep your aim straight towards your goal and don’t get sideways. If you do get knocked out of your boat, get back in it as quickly as possible so you can enjoy the rest of the ride.
Enjoy the ride! There will be some ups and downs. Sometimes, you will get splashed a little and sometimes you will get splashed a lot. Find some happiness along the way.
Lastly, there will be eddies along the way and be intentional about how you use them. They can be nice to pull over and wait for others or collect your thoughts. If you get stuck in one when you don’t want to be, you will have to work to get out or the river will just pass you by.
Going on this rafting trip, I didn’t realize how much the Colorado River could teach me. I am glad I paid attention and hope these lessons help you too.
Have you been rafting and found other lessons that you learned? I would love to hear what they are! Drop me a line on my social media or an email.
