Whitewater Rafting

Read an article on Wikipedia just a while ago. Whitewater rafting. They say its a challenging activity utilizing a raft to navigate a river or other bodies of water,which simply means different degrees of rough water, for the thrill and excitement of it.

A raft was the simplest form of man’s transportation in water, made of several logs, planks or reeds which were fastened together to form something like a small floating platform, but now evolves into a sport, being participated worldwide.

And no no no, i'm not trying to blog what has already been publish way before i knew the existence of the world wide web. But as i read on, it speaks of different classes of whitewater.
Class 1: Very small rough areas, requires no maneuvering. (Skill Level: None)

Class 2: Some rough water, maybe some rocks, might require maneuvering.(Skill Level: Basic Paddling Skill)

Class 3: Whitewater, small waves, maybe a small drop, but no considerable danger. May require significant maneuvering.(Skill Level: Experienced paddling skills)

Class 4: Whitewater, medium waves, maybe rocks, maybe a considerable drop, sharp maneuvers may be needed. (Skill Level: Whitewater Experience)

Class 5: Whitewater, large waves, possibility of large rocks and hazards, possibility of a large drop, requires precise maneuvering (Skill Level: Advanced Whitewater Experience)

Class 6: Class 6 rapids are considered to be so dangerous as to be effectively unnavigable on a reliably safe basis. Rafters can expect to encounter substantial whitewater, huge waves, huge rocks and hazards, and/or substantial drops that will impart severe impacts beyond the structural capacities and impact ratings of most all rafting equipment. Traversing a Class 6 rapid has a dramatically increased likelihood of ending in serious injury or death compared to lesser classes. (Skill Level: Successful completion of a Class 6 rapid without serious injury or death is widely considered to be a matter of luck or extreme skill)

Revelation begins here. In a blink of an eye, i saw myself back when i first started working. The way i fumble, fall, struggle and failing at the simplest things. Yes, that's whitewater class 1 to me. As i was reading the description of class 1, i thought, "hey requires no maneuvering at all! Must be easy.", but look at what happened in real life? Was the easy really that easy for me? No. My standard was way below easy. As time passes, i keep trying relentlessly in every way to get past those waters & rocks, i proceeded to class 2 and then 3, now 4. Supposedly a sport that's exciting and thrill seeking, became heart throbbing and fear gripping to me. Doubt, fear, disbeliefs arise. "Can i clear medium waves...? can i clear bigger rocks...? can i handle sharper maneuvers...?" It's flooding me all over, as my raft capsized again and again and again.....

Do i keep paddling? Or let go of my paddle and let the whitewaters push my raft around bearing the consequences of injury & brokenness? I've reached a path where i have to decide! To keep on paddling or to let go off my paddle. More people say to let go, than to keep on paddling. Of course that doesn't help to remove my doubts, fears and disbeliefs. I am not thinking, i'm following my heart......................................"PADDLE FORTH IT SAYS!" So what if i capsize again, so what if i'm bruise, i know how i've cleared the first 3 classes. I just need more time for the 4th. That's what life is! If i don't clear it, my regrets would always be haunting me!

Few years back i made a decision to live a life that 30yrs later i would not regret living. I have to move on some more. I cannot throw my paddle now. I need to move up again...and again....and again......and again.......regardless of what, i'll keep paddling..............

How does this apply to you? I don't know, i blog, you read, the rest is up to you. But at the least decide, are you gonna keep paddling? Even though the outcome is unknown for now.

I read a quote:
"Never give up, for that is just the place and time that the tide will turn."
Harriet Beecher Stowe (1811-1896)