Day 4: Kayaking- 5/21/19

A group picture right before we went kayaking.

Today we went kayaking at Bellbrook Canoe Rentals. We kayaked around 5 miles. We really focused on listening. Before we left, we watched a video on how to listen better. Multiple times during the trip, I closed my eyes and let the river carry me as I listened. I heard birds chirping and singing songs, I heard the rush of the water, the trees rustling in the wind, and geese splashing around. I just focused on these sounds, and it was very relaxing. As I slowly opened my eyes, I realized how beautiful the river was. Stopping and listening helped me be in the moment, and appreciate the sometimes unnoticed beauty around me. This will help me live more deliberately, because instead of living a very fast life, I'll slow down in life and appreciate the beauty around me. Listening will help me find more purpose in my life and what I do.

During the trip, I also swung on a rope into the water with my clothes, since I didn't have a swimsuit. It was really fun, but later on I was very cold and muddy. Looking back, I should've worn a swimsuit, but I don't regret jumping in.

When we came back, we finished up our recipe poems about bodies of water. Here is my poem-

"Take a rush of clear water and a couple water lilies.

And put a cup of bass in a dried out channel.

Mix it all with a bundle of strong cattails.

Until it’s all evenly dispersed.

Slowly pour in a bowl of frogs,

And cook everything at the comfortable temperature of 70 degrees,

You can cook it for however long you want to

Let it cool for a few minutes, and sprinkle on a dash of algae

Lastly, enjoy your new river!"