Among of my journey at Global Change Leaders Program from Coady Institute, Antigonish – Nova Scotia ( Canada) this summer 2022, I learned to kayak today, so a part of the life mistery.
Robin Neustaeter, one of our facilitators at GCL, Shannon, her friend, and Alexi Rodriguez, the kayaking professional instructor accompanied us well and showed us how to do kayaking.
The beginning was not easy. For someone who doesn’t really know how to swim…it’s another story. To paddle in the middle of the lake, with a great depth, it is quite an adventure!
However, what I learned today made me realize that:
1- When you embark on an adventure, you can get dizzy. You get lost, you get scared. But that’s normal.
2- You have the choice to go forward or to come back. But the adventure has just begun so keep going! No matter how scared you are, go ahead!
3- Make sure you’re in good company and that you trust.
4- In the beginning, you turn around. You want to go fast, but you spend all your time turning around and seeing your friends get further away from you… You wonder why you are stagnating: is it you who can’t navigate? You start to doubt your abilities…
5- Calling for help allows you to move forward. No matter how many times I turned around in the same place, I could hardly move forward. I was getting tired. Alexi came and taught me the right techniques to go straight. Asking for help is an act of bravery, not weakness
6- Stay calm to keep your balance. You’re in the middle of the lake, your kayak is rocking and you’re scared. But most of all…most of all, stay calm. In life, things don’t come by force but by gentleness. You want to go fast, you want to reach your goal…be patient and stay persistent.
7- Your goal, your pace. I was alone sailing my kayak. I can’t compete with my friends to get to certain points, because my speed depends on the ability of my arms to paddle, my eyes to see the way, and finally my perseverance to get to the water’s edge. I have no choice but to keep going, so you have to be very strong mentally.
8- Finally, have fun! Appreciate every step you make, every sounds you hear, every smile you see, appreciate everyone around you. Life is a hell of an adventure, enjoy it.
This article is dedicated to Robin Neustaeter, thank you for this unforgettable experience. I truly appreciate Shannon and Alexi for your patience and dedication.
Many thanks to Antigonish Boat Club (ABC) who made this experience amazing and magnificent. Claire MacDougall, board member of Antigonish Boat Club, joined us with her daughter Maggie Mae and showing that kayaking is open to everyone.
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Alexi Rodriguez is a professional kayaking tour guide and owns and operates McKinnon Kayak Tours: website: https://www.mckinnonkayaktours.ca/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/McKayak.
Wink to my brave friends and classmates Ana Paula Valdiones, Chhenghour Veng, Malin Lok, Diajeng Handayani, Nataliya Vyshnevetska, Fatbardha S. Abazi and Sujata Rani Pedely.