There is a swampy bit near the end of our walk in the park ravine where our golden retriever just loves to romp around chest deep in the muck. No doubt the muddy water would be cooling on a hot day but this is April. In Ontario. In a few nooks of shade there can be found caches of snow. Vestiges of a long and beautiful winter. So a dog wouldn’t be needing to cool down too much but for her there is so much exploring to do following the scent of the local fox, rabbit or squirrel.
As she emerges happy as can be now mud black on all four legs her next stop is the slow running river we cross to get back to the parking lot. She trots into the water and takes a few gulps as I take off my shoes and socks. She can sense what is coming up. She plays around a bit more and I get her by the collar now myself knee deep in the more than chilly spring water. It is invigorating for about a minute and turns to numbing soon after. So I scoop water onto her with my free hand. She absolutely hates baths but puts up with them in the river or lake. I get her looking clean but the swampy smell will only become apparent when we are back in the confines of the car.
She is panting and happy. Me rolling down the window to get some fresh air while recognizing the elongated buzz in my feet from the shallow yet still intriguing rocky cold river.
The water, the river, the flow – all them participants in the physical cleaning, mood healing and soul rejuvenating that we experience without fail.
Another river that catches my attention and awe is the River of Changes.
The River of Changes constantly runs through our life bringing challenges and opportunities.
From one grassy bank of the river we can observe the opposite bank in confusion. With a victim mentality that is paralyzing.
Other time’s we are moved to grow. That means thinking what we want and what we can do about it. So.
How do you get to the other side: where there should be a different way of looking at the river. A different story for our life. Will you make it to the other side? Will you tip over and put yourself into danger. Do you have any passengers in your canoe? Maybe attempt a crossing and you just turn back as it is difficult to read the currents and avoid the rocks.
Not worth the risk. The uncertainty.
Or.
Or you can build a bridge. A bridge you build with a pillars made of bricks of communication. Held together with the mortar of the Three Understandings (what, why, how).
A bridge designed to withstand the current of the river of change. What do you call that Bridge? The bridge that takes us from victim mindset to proactive?
The Wild Coach 