I had the pleasure of tubing down a river for the first time in probably 45 years the other day. They say one should experience something new every day. Well, it may as well have been new because it seems like a lifetime ago since I was in a tube.
It’s easy to find the metaphors in this experience so here goes….
Getting in the tube. You have to be in shallow enough water to sit down in the tube and not have it slip out from under you. In life, that means you gotta clear out that “to do” list (or maybe just throw it away?) so you can get going on the thing you want to get done. The less distraction, the better.
Current- the river was low so the current was changeable with the wind, the rocks underneath it and depending on where we were floating, the depth of that particular area. I even got hung up a a few rocks and had to push myself off. Similarly, when your energy is low, it’s easy to get distracted, change your mind and not really move much without extra paddling.
Swirling tube- sometimes I was looking forward, sometimes backward or sideways. Such is life. But the only direction that one can really go is forward. Otherwise you swirl and swirl and get stuck in the drift wood and debris.
A necessary option- at one point, we encountered a fisherman and my companion was concerned about where his hook was. So we got out and walked with our tubes for awhile on shallow, uneven rocks in the only place that had a relatively strong current all day. Figures, right? Translation? There will be times when you have to do something you never expected to get a task done. Maybe it’s learn a new program or buy a new house (yeah, that’s extreme, but I bet it’s been done!)
Floating- this was the best part of the experience. When we were floating along, the wind was gentle even if it was against the current and moving forward was slight. There will be wonderful, easy times when you will be floating along just enjoying the scenery and everything that goes with it. Short lived as it may seem, it is worth getting out of your thoughts and noticing where you are, what you have and how amazing and beautiful it all is.
Perspective is personal, of course. But life is full of wonder, surprises and unexpected shallow rocks.
Just try not to fall out of the tube.
Vanderslice Coaching 