Paddling into the New Year

My mind drifted during the safety lecture in a beginner kayaking class. I vaguely remembered something about a "sweeper"—overhanging branches, vines, or obstacles that can literally sweep a paddler out of their kayak if they get too close.

On my first trip down the river, I encountered just such an obstacle. As I realized I was heading straight for it, I panicked somewhat. Staring directly at the branches, I braced myself, frantically paddling in an attempt to avoid them. Voices shouted instructions, but I was too focused on the danger ahead to process what they were saying. Inevitably, I slammed into the branches and got tangled in the vines.

The instructor came to my rescue and, once I was free, reminded me of the critical safety tip I had missed:

“Steer in the direction you want to go! Look where you want your kayak to go, not where you don’t want it to go!”

I did not get on the river to get to the end; I got on the river to enjoy the adventure. Life can be that way too!

What direction do you want to go? Often, we’re more aware of where we don’t want to go, fixating on our “sweepers” while desperately trying to paddle away. But simply being aware of the obstacles isn’t enough—we need to focus on where we want to steer.

What are the “sweepers” in your life? And more importantly, where do you want to steer?

Happy New Year!

Here’s to new fun adventures!