What's new?

Trying new things is one of the best ways to encourage growth in yourself and those around you. There's a little motto I learned a year ago, " keep your life going and growing". This simple sentence deeply resonated with me and at the time I heard first ignited my passion further. I was living in Arcata California then, in a new area, with new people and an abundance of opportunities. It was to my good fortune to spend time studying, volunteering, and socializing with many friends. The motto became a kind bearing for my adventures; I wanted to try the things that I was most afraid of, talk with people whom I normally would not. 

   In March of 2016 I had a chance to on a river rafting trip on the Trinity River in Northern California. High in the Trinity Alps the water was cold, the air fresh, the pine trees whispered with the wind. Amidst a group of strangers I began to mingle, I went on this trip alone and knew no one who I was going to be on the raft with. Doing this things alone was important for me for it encouraged me, forced me to be social. The trip, however, was not meant to push me socially. See I am not very comfortable in water, and rafting a class II river gave me quite a knot in my stomach.  

    The road trip to the river was like any other road trip. I meet those in the van with me, got to learn about these new friends with whom I would share a raft with. The knot in my stomach was faint, we talked and snacked on packed treats. After a sleepy trip we made to the river and made our preparations to begin. Now I remembered the knot once more twisting with greater tension as we got the raft in the water. Now we were all in, with safety gear and paddles; now we started our course there was no turning back now. 

      The river was calm as we started to be pulled along. We rehearsed our paddle pattern, reviewed safety measures, and we were off. Apprehensive at first, gradually I eased up, the knot slackened and began to take in the breath-taking beauty around me. Then we approached our first rapid. An easy one but my unease returned all the same. The pull of water steadily grew stronger the closer we got.  My agitation steadily increased, getting closer and faster at the same time; my body got tense all around, cold river water splashing me. Did I mention that was sitting at the very front. Yup, somehow I simply volunteered to be there. The front-left. At that point I wondered if I had made a mistake. I looked at the safety handles by my side. Then my guide said something I was not keen to hear: "the waters pretty low". That was it, that's  all she said. I remember thinking, 'what does that mean ?' Still, I went with it. Bumping over the rocks I sliced into the water with the paddle all my concentration. As I bounced in the raft I remember trying to hook my toes up into the craft, just trying to feel like I was holding on. But we were already down the rapid. Just like that. We floated on down the river it was then I truly relaxed and began to take in where I was. 

  The rest of the trip down river was amazing. Passing through the valley created by the flow of the water over millions of years made an impression on me that is still hard to put into words. So I don't.  I keep the memory of that majesty and feeling it inspired, the experience to be treasured. We were very fortunate on that trip to spot several animals, deer eating by the river edge, squirrels scurrying on trees. Personally I really wanted to see an eagle and as luck would have it I got that chance. Flying high above in the hunt and eagle passed over on the last leg of the river. It was an exhilarating day but as we drifted around the river bend to the last leg there was still one more personal challenge left. At the start of trip the guides had told us of a particular part were we could swim. I silently reacted to this and wondered whether I would take the opportunity for a dip. Nervous as I am in deep water I resolved that I had to swim. 

   I seated myself in the edge of the raft apprehensive as ever. This being my first time in the water that day. I left myself drop backwards hitting the cold water. Colder water than expected if truth be told. Again, not being very comfortable in the water it took a few minutes and some deep breaths to calm down. As I relaxed a peaceful weightlessness settled me and I let myself be carried by the gentle currents. I floated a little ways and came to a place near by were a large rock sat in the river. Drifting along I was tugged by current flow in between the rock and shore. Some of the rafter had climbed the large rock and jumping into the river. It was not that high but high enough. I knew I had to as well. So I climbed on up, drew cautiously to the edge, and took a breath. I did not jump so much as fall in. The tension in my stomach was still with me but I had done, I cleared the rock. Simply, though these things were they were important in their small way. That trip was instrumental to my growth because I confronted my reservations about participating in an activity which I was admittedly a little scared to do. I look back on that day with joy, remembering the beauty of mountains, the freshness in the air, and importantly that I pushed my circle ever wider, " kept my life going and growing". Jumping right right into the water that is how I want to approach my self-improvement and jumping in that day has helped keep the ball rolling. 

#thoughts #Nature #Peace