Life Lessons Learned On The River

Two weeks ago today, I found myself launching a raft onto the Middle Fork of the Salmon for a five day river trip through the most remote area of of the lower 48 states. Truly a memorable experience that I’ll never forget. The core of the group was made up of guys who’ve been running rivers for years, and they ran this expedition like a well-oiled machine. A huge shoutout to Commander Dan Housley (bad cop), and Master Kent “Big Cat” Jackson (good cop) for a first rate trip!

This was a special trip for so many reasons, most of which I’ve discussed at some point over the last couple years in my newsletter. It was a good reminder of those principles:

Camaraderie and friendship: The core of this group has been running rivers together for years. It was inspiring to see the teamwork required to pull this off. More importantly I loved seeing the friendships that existed through a shared passion for the river. As I wrote about here, relationships are truly the basis for a well-lived life. I was grateful to meet new friends and strengthen bonds with those I already knew. And it was a blessing of human connection – interacting with amazing people and working together to get down the river. It felt like a microcosm of life!

Solitude: The Comfort Crisis is one of my favorite books that I’ve read in the last couple years. I highly recommend it! In the book, Michael Easter discusses the importance of spending time in nature, away from technology. Just three days in the wild, without electronics, causes a lasting effect of decreased stress and increased well-being. Honestly, I don’t know if I’ve truly had that opportunity to be away like that since I got a smart phone twelve years ago. I’m guessing I’m not the only one. Without a doubt, one of my favorite things from this trip was no internet, no cell service. The ability to be present, in nature was just phenomenal. If you haven’t done it in awhile, please, give it a try.

Presence: Without a cell phone to constantly look at, I found more opportunities for thought and reflection. I woke up early one morning and walked up to a small cliff on the river that formed an eddy. It was one of the most peaceful and inspiring experiences of the trip. I sat for thirty minutes watching the water as it moved rapidly through the river and then swirled out of the main flow, and slowly moved its way back upstream close to shore. I was mesmerized by the patterns in formed, the effortless nature with which it flowed, and the peace in that moment. Life is like that river. We’re often stuck in the relentless flow of the rapids, moving our way through life. Too often we miss the opportunity to “eddy out,” take a deep breath, and truly enjoy the beauty that surrounds us.

Stillness: One of the assignments for each member of the group was to bring a “fun thing” to share with the others. With some trepidation I shared my favorite meditation I learned awhile back that I try to use frequently when I’m in nature (I know, right??? Who brings the guy whose fun thing is a nature meditation???) It goes like this:

Stop and look around while taking a few deep breaths through your nose.

List the following (if you have a chance, write it down) –

Five things you can see.
Four things you can feel/touch.
Three things you can hear.
Two things you can smell (or just one because sometimes it hard to find two).
One thing you can taste.

I like this meditation because it’s active. By using each of the five senses, the brain is able to better record the moment and potentially lock in that memory to be recalled at a later time.

Even if you don’t meditate regularly, try it out! It’s a great way to bring more meaning to your time in nature.

Die with Zero: This might be the most influential book I’ve read in the last two years as I wrote about here. Experiences matter. When I first received the text from my brother offering me a spot on the trip, my initial thought was a pretty strong “no.” Not because I didn’t want to go, but because it didn’t make sense to take even more time off from work this summer. But after that thought, I had a different thought – Is this an experience that I really want to miss out on? Not surprisingly, I have no regrets at all about going. In fact it was an experience I’ll never forget!