The sun rays beam through the water above me, and I reach towards the light, but I can't seem to break the surface. A strong current pushes me upward but a large wave crashes on top of me violently pulling me down again. Involuntarily I suck water into my lungs and panic, fighting for the surface. I'm so weak. I'm no match for this liquid tug of war even with a life jacket strapped tightly around my torso. Spinning around and around, being pushed up and down and thrown from side to side, I realize the only thing I can do is stop trying to control the river. My only choice is to stay calm and ride out the rest of the rapid. Go with the flow.
Finally, I'm able to catch a break. I breach the surface and gasp for air. The choppy waves still knock me around but at least now my head is above the water. I see the kayaker battling the current with his oar to get closer to me. Frantically reaching towards him I grab a hold of his kayak. He asks me repeatedly if I'm okay and tells me not to panic. Before I know it my friends are pulling me back into the raft, and my respiratory system is working overtime to raise the levels of oxygen in my bloodstream. We grab our oars and dig forcefully into the water when the rafting guide yells, "Forward!" and continue with our adventure.
Why do we adventurers love testing our mortality? So many brushes with death yet we continuously engage in more adrenaline pumped activities that seem to raise a middle finger up to God. For those who are more comfortable avoiding any sort of risky behavior they may think we don't respect the fragile nature of life, but I believe it's quite the opposite.
Adventurers of all types constantly remind themselves of the sweetness of being alive. They respect the trials and tribulations that make them stronger because there is not a single challenge they can't face head on. When we push our limitations we are forced to face the reality that we are small and out of control compared to the grand scheme of things. Sure, we can make our own choices, but it's up to the elements around us to decide the results. When we look death in the eye we can really appreciate the miracle of life, the ephemeral nature of existence.
There is symbolism all around us and in everything we do. The Zambezi River teaches a great message. Stop fighting the flow. What's the point in making everything so much harder on yourself when you're going to end up in the same place anyway? Take a deep breath when you can, calm down, and everything will work out.
I'm not saying you can't appreciate life to it's fullest unless you're an adventurer. You don't have to jump off a bridge or out of an airplane, swing through a gorge, or raft down one of the world's most intense rivers to understand what it means to be alive. Beauty is to be found even in the simplest of things. But when life becomes stagnant, I think it's important to light a spark with a bit of fear.
Allow yourself the opportunity to grow outside of your comfort zone and life will reward you in an endless amount of ways. You are the only one stopping yourself from reaching your full potential. How long will you stand in your own way?
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