Learning to Ride the Waves of Life - A Lesson From Possum Kingdom Lake

One of our summer activities is boating on Possum Kingdom Lake. I am blessed to have in-laws who have a place on a quiet little cove on this majestic lake. 

We sneak away as often as we can, and I spend hours dragging our kids around either on an inner-tube, kneeboard or skis. To say it's my happy place would be a colossal understatement. Its where I go to give my conscious mind time off and just let things be. 

It's not all relaxing and floating on the lake though. We have chores that need attending, and I'm happy to earn my keep by replacing an errant board or two or doing some minor plumbing repair as it comes up. These are done before lunch with lots of breaks to strategize about the best approach or to take the kids out for a quick run on the tube or kneeboard. 

After the chores, we spend the rest of the day watching the kids splash around. Of course, this is from a float that sits just above the lake's surface gently rolling over the tops of the waves created by other boats in the cove surfing or wakeboarding the afternoon away. 

Early morning boat trips give us a chance to ride on smooth water, and the kids glide around with ease. The kids love it because there are very few if any waves. But while these rides are comfortable my kids are coming to understand that just doing the easy can get a little boring. 

When the cove fills up, and waves start to rock and roll around the inlet kneeboarding gets a little more interesting. As we navigate the loop, the kids are always watching for big waves lurking near our path. This last weekend while dragging my daughter it hit me that we often do this in life. We do not thoroughly enjoy the ride because we are afraid of the unseen wave lurking just beyond our sight. Worried that things may get a little uncomfortable and shaky. 

What our kids are learning is to ride the waves. Not to let go of the rope and end their turn because of fear, but to trust in their ability to ride whatever wave may come their way. With each set of waves they master, their confidence grows. The smile on their faces when they manage to ride out an unusually large set of boat waves is worth the time and resources spent making it happen. 

Sometimes though you are going to face plant, that's just part of the experience. This last weekend Presli topped a huge wave and face-planted into the water pretty hard. I thought that would be the end of her ride, but as I pulled up alongside her, I found she was laughing and ready to ride again. As you are learning to ride the waves, it's important to give yourself some room to fail. It happens. Learn from it, laugh about it and apply your lessons to the next set of waves. 

And while some time on the smooth water is always appreciated, it's the waves we face and learn to ride that keep life exciting. Learn to trust your abilities to handle whatever life throws your way. Now, more than ever, we need people willing to face the challenges of life and help inspire others to live a bold and adventurous life. Daring greatness and finding a life of purpose. For it in this magical place where passion meets purpose that the world changes.  

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Dave Quinn, CEcD is Chief Inspiration Officer for DaveQuinn247.com and President of Beingwell365 LLC., a corporate wellness company inspiring its members to live their personal best through a holistic human centric approach to corporate wellness.

If you'd like to set up a time to visit with Dave about possible speaking engagements or to find out more about becoming a member of the Beingwell365 family click here to set up a 30-minute discovery call.

Dave is a passionate father & husband, encouraging others to be a positive influence in the world around them. As an economic development mastermind, wellness advocate and vision caster, he loves inspiring others through talks on Leadership, Wellness, Economic Development, and Personal Responsibility. Connect with him in the social media world: Twitter, Instagram, and others @DaveQuinn247.