Rowing Through the Memories: Making the Connections

       Yesterday I had the opportunity to lead an English camp for Tsuruga students with the help of 6 more ALTs. As I made my final preparations for a powerpoint presentation the night before, I connected one my external hard-drives in search for some pictures and... I was immediately taken for a wild ride along memory lane. What began as a quick search for a few pictures became a nostalgic remembrance of some of the most memorable moments of the story of my life. Of these, it was this picture of the Royal Canadian Henley Regatta in 03' which spoke most to me. 

It's true, pictures do speak a thousand words, but I'm often left thinking how differently each picture is seen and interpreted by the viewer. In any event, I really don't feel like trying to explain what this picture represents and means to me. Suffice to say that this was the one perfect race that so many strive for and few ever find. 

Building upon this image, I'd like to emphasize something I once heard Steve Jobs say: 'life must be lived forward, but can only be understood backwards'. In life like in rowing, we often move forward without really knowing for certain where it is we are going. The important thing is to know that we are moving, and that we aren't stuck somewhere. But in order to let our motion carry us forward, we must put to use all that we've learned in each of the strokes we have already taken prior to being where we currently find ourselves in. Eventually, after all the sweat, tears, blood, setbacks, and hard work necessary to help us learn how to row and flow smoothly and balanced harmoniously together, the waters begin to open way for that perfect moment of clarity. Dot by dot, stroke by stroke one begins to see how closely related every single experience of one's life is with the present situation one finds oneself in. In this sense, I cannot help but smile knowing fully well that I've played my cards well, and that regardless of how uncertain the future may be, I am confidently rowing forward while I happily look back at all that I've done. 

Above all, I've come to realize that I am truly living the life I've always imagined rather than following the recipe lifestyle that the media and society tries so hard to glorify - often successfully. Perhaps, the greatest satisfaction comes from beginning to see where my place is in the overall picture. One which regardless of how big or small may be, is as important as anyone else's. 

Thus, I ROW forward... sometimes gently... sometimes powering up, but never letting my inertia come to rest until every single dot connection comes to show me the final picture of what I'm meant to be. 

Row your boat. 

You are meant to move. 

For whether there be gentle or violent waters,

Yours is the power to move forward confidently, knowing that all that you've done has prepared you to be exactly where you are at in every moment.

ROW on...