Learning - #1

As I sit here writing this post, I feel my tired, sore shoulders from canoeing last night.  Canoeing last night was quite an experience.  Before arriving at the Trinity River, I didn’t know if I would be canoeing or kayaking.  I had previously kayaked twice before and those were both interesting experiences.  My first experience was with a guy from my high school, I was paired with a friend who had competitively kayaked, and he practically steered the boat himself; I may have just propelled it forward a bit.  My second experience was with my dad; we were in the Baltic Sea on choppy waters.  No matter what either of us did, the experience was difficult and hardly a success – but we did make it safely to shore!

For our Community Engagement Project, I was worried that I wouldn’t be able to successfully paddle myself down the river.  Thankfully, I didn’t have to do it alone; I had great partners with whom I was able to make it down the river to Panther Island.

I definitely learned the most from the first half of the experience.  From carrying the canoe, which according to the Internet weights about 60-80lbs, down the ramp, I realized that this would be a difficult experience.  However, it was comforting to know I wasn’t going to have to do it alone.

When I got into the canoe, I was surprised at how shaky and unbalanced it was.  As my partner and I began to canoe, we realized as we glided on the water, the canoe would slowly steady itself.  Steering, on the other hand, was a daunting task.  As we gradually glided into one of the banks, I tried to redirect the canoe but ended up running into the bank and accidentally began to do donuts in the river.  I was frustrated with myself that I couldn’t make us go straight.  I was trying to do the fancy paddling movement that Cameron tried to teach us so that we wouldn’t waste time zigzagging on the River.  I felt that I was less capable than my peers and discouraged if I couldn’t make it down the river.  As we slowly progressed, I had the childish question repeating in my head, “Are we almost there?”

However, by the time one of the guides announced we were halfway through, I felt a since of satisfaction and confidence that I could finish canoeing down the river, even if my shoulders and arms were tired.

A constant struggle in my life is to not try to micromanage and plan everything.  This canoe trip definitely taught me that I need to go with the flow more often even when I am uncomfortable in a situation.