Hubby and I went kayaking this past weekend! It was a “bucket list” dream come true!
Have you ever sat on the shore and watched kayakers gracefully glide across the water in their brilliant neon kayaks? It looks so effortless … so peaceful.
“That is definitely something I would like to do,” I have always thought.
My dream destination for kayaking was Baker Lake. So, this past Saturday hubby and I drove up to Baker Lake to “spend the day on the water.”
When we think about our relationships with each other, we often think of them as I’ve always thought of kayaking: “Look at their relationship … it looks so effortless. Look at them ‘gliding’ through life in their relationship … I would really like to have a relationship like that!”
Then the day comes when we finally have the opportunity to have that relationship! We stand at the beginning of that relationship so excited: a brand-new dating relationship! … or … just starting off in marriage! … or … holding our brand-new baby and starting a brand-new relationship with our child!
As far as kayaking goes … hubby and I had no clue what we were doing.
When it comes to starting a brand-new relationship (dating, marriage, parent/child, work, etc…), the same thing is true … we have no clue what we are doing.
To start out, hubby and I had to get into the kayak. Needless to say, it was not effortless. It was not seamless.
The same thing is true when it comes to relationships. When you’ve never done it before, you have no clue what you are doing.
In a dating relationship, you don’t even know the other person. You both are total strangers to each other. You are starting at the very beginning trying to get to know the other person.
In a marriage relationship, you are trying to figure out how to live life together. There are a lot of complicated variables. You don’t have a clue what you are doing.
When you hold your brand-new baby … and proceed to parent them through the toddler years up through the elementary years, etc. … you don’t have a clue what you are doing! Just about the time you think you’ve got it figured out, your child goes through a growth spurt and everything changes all over again!
Relationships require a “learning curve.” Don’t get discouraged if things are awkward at first. That simply goes with the territory.
Don’t worry about what other people might be thinking of you and your relationship. Ignore everyone else. Focus on building your relationship together with that other person! Give it your best … and keep trying!
It’s ok to not have a clue. You’ll figure it out.
