I just got back from a white water rafting trip with the teenage girls I work with. 3 fun filled training less days in Forks, ME down the Kennebec River with 6 teenage girls— fun.
For those who have never experienced the Kennebec, there is a section of the river toward the end where the guide allows you to get out of the raft and swim. 2 of my girls decided to swim and the rest of us relaxed on the raft and sun bathed.
It was here where I got some training in…
As I was relaxing in the sun on the edge of the raft, I all of a sudden felt intent from 3 people down on the other side of the boat. I made eye contact with the girl and said “If I go in, you will be joining me” as I moved from the edge of the boat into it.
With those words she pounced.
I could not fight this kid to avoid going into the water… I would have destroyed her and be jobless.
Instead I allowed her to “win”.
As I was going over the edge, I managed to grab a hold of her life jacket. I then “picked my foot up and put it down” right onto the side of the raft. The other foot followed. There I was attached to the side of the raft in “dead bug” position, holding onto the girl’s life jacket refusing to go into the water without her.
My co-workers told me later that the girl’s face had a moment of pure fear. They also thought I attached myself to her ponytail (I am not that mean) so they kindly ejected her from the raft and in we went.
Ninja skills pay off.
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