When pondering the trajectory of our lives, we might compare the journey to the flowing of a river. This river of life sometimes seems to have its own predetermined path, carved through the course of time, suggesting a destiny we are meant to fulfil. It is an alluring thought, but is it better to simply float along on the currents of this river, or is it more prudent to navigate its waters with a calculated plan?
Indeed, the philosophy of going with the flow is comforting. It implies trust that the river knows where it is going, and all we must do is stay afloat. We are accepting of the unforeseen rapids, and the tranquil pools, with an understanding that these are all part of a grander scheme we are yet to comprehend and many people suggest that perhaps the river has its wisdom.
Yet, the risk of such surrender is that we may become passive participants in our own lives. If we always go with the flow, we may miss the branches of opportunity that require us to paddle against the current. To this end, having a plan is akin to carrying a map and a compass on our journey. It gives us direction and helps us set a course towards our desired outcomes. With a plan, we can identify where we want the river to take us and make deliberate choices to reach those destinations. It is the act of paddling with intention, of choosing which tributaries to explore and which waterfalls to avoid.
A plan, however, is not infallible. The river’s currents are ever-changing, and what appears on a map may not reflect the reality of unseen undercurrents or newly formed obstacles. This is where the river teaches us a crucial lesson: the most effective plans are those that are adaptable. They take into account the ever-evolving nature of life and our own growth within it. They are detailed, yet not so rigid that they break under the pressure of the unforeseen. They allow us to set a destination but remain open to the journey itself, to the lessons and transformations that occur along the way.
In merging these approaches, we find a more nuanced path. It involves acknowledging the flow of the river—respecting its power and its wisdom—while also recognising our agency to navigate its course. We might be born into this river at a certain point, with certain dispositions and talents that suggest a natural pathway. Yet, we have the ability to choose how we engage with the current, when to let it carry us and when to steer towards the goals we have set.
In the end, our mission as sentient beings is to recognise that we are not just passive driftwood nor solely the masterful paddlers. We are travellers who navigate a river that is both of our own making and one that has made us. It is a river whose waters are fed by fate and directed by the hands of will. To live fully is to embrace this duality, to understand that while some things are beyond our control, we still have the power to shape our journey in profound ways, that is to accept the river’s wisdom and to contribute our own verse to the endless song it sings.
Photo courtesy by Unsplash
