Constant Whitewater
One of my Cal Poly professors really likes showing video clips in his lectures. I don't mind. It beats being lectured at and/or being put on the spot to participate - I hate both of those things.
During our second quarter, we watched a video by Stephen Covey. It's ok if you don't know who he is - I didn't either and honestly, I still don't really know. But in the video he gave a great analogy of LIFE, except he referred his analogy to leadership in the business world, which we aspiring administrators then had to apply to leadership in education.
Picture a rowing team on a placid lake. The "coxswain" (I learn something new every day!) shouts out a steady rhythm and the rowers follow suit. They make it look so easy.
In contrast, picture a group of people whitewater rafting. They are steering the boat but how? No one is barking orders at them. They have to use their senses, their instincts, their gut, and row the boat clear of any danger. It looks impossible but the people on that boat make it work. They paddle through the whitewater and even though it looks rough, they make it through.
Can you see the connection to just LIFE? Life is not a crew on a placid lake following the coxswain's orders. Life is constant whitewater. Covey compared the whitewater to CHANGE and change is constant.
Now that I've applied this analogy to life, humor me by applying it more specifically to marriage.
Marriage is constant whitewater.
And I mean that in the most loving way possible.
Life is hard and life comes with constant change. It's all about who you have on your team, in your boat, to help you navigate through the rough waters. At times, life is too loud to bark out orders to the others. You have to move forward by listening to your senses, your instincts, your gut.
My life and my marriage in these past ten years has been constant whitewater. But man! What a thrilling adventure it has been! I have the right man in my boat to help me navigate those rough waters and when we make it past one area of whitewater, we can breathe deep, take in the scenery, and refocus our minds, sharpen our wits, and pump up our muscles to take on the next round of whitewater.
Marriage is love and romance and goo-goo eyes but the majority of the time, it's navigating the whitewater of life with the companion who can read my next move before even I can. Marriage is hugs and cuddles and kisses but it's also storms of anger and frustration that must be resolved and comforted in order to move forward. Marriage is a blessing, never a curse. Marriage has made me stronger. Marriage has made me wiser. Marriage has made me so incredibly thankful to have a partner in this constant whitewater of life. I love my Jeff and I have loved our life together thus far.
Here's to many more 10-years together!
During our second quarter, we watched a video by Stephen Covey. It's ok if you don't know who he is - I didn't either and honestly, I still don't really know. But in the video he gave a great analogy of LIFE, except he referred his analogy to leadership in the business world, which we aspiring administrators then had to apply to leadership in education.
Picture a rowing team on a placid lake. The "coxswain" (I learn something new every day!) shouts out a steady rhythm and the rowers follow suit. They make it look so easy.
In contrast, picture a group of people whitewater rafting. They are steering the boat but how? No one is barking orders at them. They have to use their senses, their instincts, their gut, and row the boat clear of any danger. It looks impossible but the people on that boat make it work. They paddle through the whitewater and even though it looks rough, they make it through.
Can you see the connection to just LIFE? Life is not a crew on a placid lake following the coxswain's orders. Life is constant whitewater. Covey compared the whitewater to CHANGE and change is constant.
Now that I've applied this analogy to life, humor me by applying it more specifically to marriage.
Marriage is constant whitewater.
And I mean that in the most loving way possible.
Life is hard and life comes with constant change. It's all about who you have on your team, in your boat, to help you navigate through the rough waters. At times, life is too loud to bark out orders to the others. You have to move forward by listening to your senses, your instincts, your gut.
My life and my marriage in these past ten years has been constant whitewater. But man! What a thrilling adventure it has been! I have the right man in my boat to help me navigate those rough waters and when we make it past one area of whitewater, we can breathe deep, take in the scenery, and refocus our minds, sharpen our wits, and pump up our muscles to take on the next round of whitewater.
Marriage is love and romance and goo-goo eyes but the majority of the time, it's navigating the whitewater of life with the companion who can read my next move before even I can. Marriage is hugs and cuddles and kisses but it's also storms of anger and frustration that must be resolved and comforted in order to move forward. Marriage is a blessing, never a curse. Marriage has made me stronger. Marriage has made me wiser. Marriage has made me so incredibly thankful to have a partner in this constant whitewater of life. I love my Jeff and I have loved our life together thus far.
Here's to many more 10-years together!