What’s Holding You Back from Your Next Adventure?

Yesterday, I went on a new adventure that almost didn’t happen. Earlier in the week, I’d been complaining saying how no one had invited me out on the lake or to a 4th of July BBQ. For years I’ve lived in Oklahoma, the land of a million man-made lakes, and I’ve only been out on the water twice! Twice in 30 years for someone who LOVES the water? Sounds crazy, right?

So when a friend invited me last minute to go kayaking, I considered it for a few minutes, almost said “I can’t” because of a work conflict, then quickly (and easily) rescheduled to take advantage of an opportunity I’d been whining about not having a few days earlier.

When we arrived at Gypsy Camp and Canoe, I didn’t know what to expect. In fact, I didn’t know I had any expectation until I saw them loading up the one man kayaks. I’d been canoeing before in tandem, but a kayak alone? Never.

My fear started creeping in on the bus ride to the river. There was no real reason to be afraid, but because I had expectations (of canoeing with a friend, not alone) and the fact that a few weeks earlier a friend lost her brother on the river, fear started creeping in.

When we arrived at the river and I saw people loading into their one-man kayaks, I got emotional. Could I maneuver a kayak on my own? What was waiting for me around the bend? Would the water be rough or smooth? Would the current carry me away to where I didn’t want to go? Would I be able to steer around trees in the middle of the river, or would I crash into them and capsize, or worse?

The fear wasn’t strong, but it was just enough to threaten my time out on the river, something I’ve been wanting more of in my life. Thankfully, having been a graduate of the Landmark Forum, I knew fear was something I created. It wasn’t real. I also knew I had the power to let my fear grow, or kill it before it took hold and ruined my day.

So instead of fighting my fear, I embraced it and took a deeper look at what was going on, then I adjusted my expectations. I’d like to say the moment I got out on the river my attitude shifted instantly, but it didn’t. I had trouble landing my kayak on the beach to wait for the others who decided to go down the small rapids before we headed out on our 4-mile float, not to mention, my dollar flip-flops made it more difficult to walk in the water and pull the kayak to shore. Note to self: buy some water shoes.

Yet once back in the water, I realized I could maneuver the kayak on my own with some practice, and when I rounded the bend and saw the calm water and beautiful trees and rock formations and gorgeous blue sky, that’s when I let go of the fear of the unknown and relaxed. That’s when I soaked in the moment and embraced the adventure that lay ahead. That’s when I realized the one thing I’d been wanting more of in my life a few days earlier was happening right now!

And the payoff for conquering my fear and leaving my expectations behind; I created the opportunity for adventure, beauty, fun, and friendship to show up. And guess what? It did!

If you’d like to find out more about adventures like this in the Oklahoma and Arkansas visit https://hyohadventures.com/ and https://www.facebook.com/HikingMan67/