I took a leadership class. When we started reading the given book, I have to admit, I didn’t really relate – it was based almost solely on leading in the business world, and in my life of diapers and drippy noses, I am far from the business world, nor do I have any desire to enter the business leadership realm.
But I kept reading. And so glad that I did.
There was a part in there that talked about leaders feeling like the company should be acting like a placid lake. They hit rapids every once in a while, but then will get back to the placid lake. Most leaders are constantly striving to lead in the lake, but the authors brought out the reality… they have to learn to lead in the rapids, because the RAPIDS, not the lake, are in fact the norm.
This paragraph hit me like a ton of bricks. I suddenly realized that all of the discontentment that I have been feeling lately was trying (in vain) to find the placid lake.
Life in motherhood is exactly like riding the rapids.
It’s great, and exciting, but also unpredictable and ever changing. And forever forcing us forward at breakneck speed.
And the more time I spend trying to recapture the lake, the more frustrated I will be.
So I have given up the search for the placid lake. Instead, I give in to the notion that each day is going to be a crazy ride, so I may as well buck up and enjoy it while it lasts.
So now, when people ask me how things are going… my response is to smile just a bit and say,
“Riding the rapids, baby. Riding the Rapids.”
