𝗧𝗶𝗽𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗖𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗟𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗻𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽

This weekend, I got to celebrate one of the greatest joys of my daily life; my 

love and partnership with Tim.  We couldn’t have picked a better way to share the day together with our kids in 100° weather, than by going white water rafting. 

As we reflected in appreciation for the 23-year journey we have taken together, my husband wisely stated that rafting is such an apt metaphor for journeying through life and marriage together. So, here are a few of our fun rafting tips for staying in the flow of joy, contentment, and connection in a long-term relationship:

P𝒂𝒅𝒅𝒍𝒆 𝒇𝒐𝒓𝒘𝒂𝒓𝒅 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒊𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒂𝒍𝒍𝒚 𝒅𝒊𝒑 𝒅𝒆𝒆𝒑:

💕Create and find ways to focus on a deeper and forward-moving vision for the things you want together that is larger than life circumstances. Whether you’re moving to avoid the rocks while rafting, or the rocks that can stand in the way of your connection, intentionality is key to keeping your momentum going.  

𝑫𝒐𝒏’𝒕 𝒃𝒆 𝒂𝒇𝒓𝒂𝒊𝒅 𝒕𝒐 𝒑𝒂𝒅𝒅𝒍𝒆 𝒃𝒂𝒄𝒌𝒘𝒂𝒓𝒅𝒔:

💕Sometimes you have to revisit personal blocks, traumas,old wounds and misunderstandings in order to move into more intimacy and connection. When it is connected to your greater vision together it can clear things in your way, turn your perspective around, and put you back on track to where you want to go. It may even offer a different path that you hadn’t considered and that may be even more heart-giving.

𝑾𝒐𝒓𝒌𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝑻𝒐𝒈𝒆𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓

💕Though we sat on opposite sides of the raft, our guide was continually reminding us that the more we worked in synchronicity, the more we navigate the water with ease. 

💕It is natural for people to shifted over time and inevitable that roles, interests and perspectives  change which can feel like you are sitting on two opposite sides of a raft. This is when to actively ask yourself how your differences compliment and support both the individual and joint growth you are creating. This allows you to be better able to listen and create the synchronicity that keeps you moving your togetherness forward. 

𝑩𝒖𝒎𝒑𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝑼𝒑

💕Like bumping up against a rock or another raft, at some point you will bump up against yourself, each other and life circumstances:

💕Ask yourself, what does it take to approach this current bump so it doesn’t turn into a crash? 

💕What thoughts, feelings, beliefs and perspective can I choose to allow this bump to move us into deeper knowing, connection and vision? 

💕What new information and joy might I receive or give through this experience together? 

𝑾𝒉𝒆𝒏 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝑻𝒐𝒑𝒑𝒍𝒆

💕Because there will be times that you feel like you do; the less resistance you exert, the more you can truly lay back, keep your feet up, trust the water or that which is larger than you to carry you through, the more clarity you will have around coming back to center within yourself so that you can pivot, refine and contribute effectively in your life and partnership.. 

𝑹𝒆𝒔𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈:

💕There was lots of time between rapids where we put our paddles down and simply floated along and soaked up the beauty around us.  When you are intentionally creating time 

together to enjoy the moment, and receive it with gratitude, it fills you up and is the necessary action for the next thing in life that calls you to put oar back in and dip deep.  

𝑬𝒏𝒋𝒐𝒚 𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒓𝒊𝒍𝒍 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑨𝒅𝒗𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒖𝒓𝒆:

💕Like the experience of putting all oars in, the body behind each stroke while enjoying the splash and the spray through the unknown, put in the focus and commitment to yourself and your partner so you can trustingly enjoy and celebrate the ride!!

𝘼𝙣𝙙 𝙬𝙝𝙚𝙣 𝙞𝙩 𝙛𝙚𝙚𝙡𝙨 𝙨𝙤 𝙜𝙤𝙤𝙙, 𝙙𝙤𝙣’𝙩 𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙜𝙚𝙩 𝙩𝙤 𝙜𝙤 𝙗𝙖𝙘𝙠 𝙖𝙣𝙙…

𝑺𝒖𝒓𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒘𝒂𝒗𝒆:🏄🏄

💕 After experiencing the thrill of coming through a rapid, we were instructed to turn our raft around facing upstream, and when we hit the rapid again, lean all of our weight into the front of the boat so we could experience the splash and spray all over again.

What a visceral reminder to go back and enjoy the good stuff! And enjoy it in new and creative ways!! 

💕 It’s so important to return to your memories with an energy of triumph, recording the learnings you gained, the healing that happened, and the conenction that was built through your experience.

Last, but not least….

𝑷𝒊𝒄𝒌 𝒀𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝑮𝒖𝒊𝒅𝒆 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑮𝒖𝒊𝒅𝒂𝒏𝒄𝒆.…

💕Without a knowledgeable rafting guide, our experience of white water rafting would not have been as fulfilling.  Again, a reminder that our own journey wouldn’t have been what it has been without the perspectives and support of others who had the expertise to share with us at pivotal moments.

💕Many of us find ourselves looking for support when we hit a bump or when things topple.  Guidance is crucial in those moments and also just as important when you are feeling the flow and want to build even deeper and stronger. 

💕That’s why I am offering a free 45-minute Resilient Relationship Clarity Session for anyone ready to take the next step in creating more joy, connection and celebration in their partnerships. Send me a DM if you are interested.   

Meanwhile, Enjoy the Ride and Keep Creating Waves of Joy together!!! 🌊🌊🌊 

💜 Jhorna