18 Feb 2008 04:11:42 | Cheryl Perlitz
I’ve always loved the awesome majesty of mountains. They are,
however, the byproduct of the rivers that formed them: flowing,
adjusting, carving, crashing and gently nurturing the land and
animals along the way. The river carves its way through, and the
mountains answer as towers of strength.
Like the river, our lives are forever moving and changing,
shaping us as the water shapes the land it flows through.
The water’s FLOW shapes the river, shapes the land, and defines
the river’s size along its path. The water reacts to obstacles
in its way. It creates pools, channels, and gorges. It also
determines the habitat and landscape that surrounds it, the food
sources within it, and the animal and plant life that can
survive in it. The animals and plants depend on it for life
itself. In the same way, we flow and adjust, change and
contribute along the path of life.
There is an unseen force driving the flow: THE UNDERCURRENT. The
undercurrent can be strong and drive the flow quickly. Like the
river, we have a hidden force that drives us. The spirit that
drives us can be strong and vibrant; sometimes beautiful,
sometimes murky, and sometimes unknown.
The RAPIDS result from obstacles beneath the surface. We
experience turbulence when unexpected changes/obstacles affect
us. At times staying afloat seems like an insurmountable task.
We struggle to adapt to the rapids in our life and find that the
turbulence becomes part of our life’s flow.
WATERFALLS are strong, powerful, one of nature’s greatest
hazards and most beautiful phenomena. For us, the waterfalls of
life interrupt our normal flow with great force and strength.
Major life changes throw us into emotional falls, and feelings
that are strong, intense and powerful. The waterfall is
unpredictable and frightening because we lose control. If we
ride the waterfall, we can savor the feeling that awaits us when
we arrive at the gentle swirling pools at the bottom.
WHIRLPOOLS form when the rushing water hits an obstruction. The
water turns around and around, in a swirling motion…. Spinning
and out of control. In our lives, the whirlpools churn us
around, suck us in and spit us out. The secret to surviving the
whirlpools is to relax, let go, and realize we are not in
control of many things. Even though we think we will sink at the
time and never be able to come up for air, we will eventually
pop up, just as a leaf that is sucked into the whirlpool will
pop up.
Reaching the calm POOLS is the reward. For us, the pools bring
those moments of calm and reflection. This is the place for
learning and recuperation…. taking a deep breath…. And then
moving on.
At the EDDIES, the water actually turns around and flows
upstream along the bank, and then turns around to join the
downstream flow. For us, the eddy is the place for reflection;
Looking at what is past, learning from it, and moving on.
In the end, the river, which is now bulging with life, energy,
and fullness, joins the sea, contributing all it has gathered
along the way. Just like us: we flow, adjust, grow, and bring
what we have to something bigger.
Copyright @ Soaring 2004 by Cheryl Perlitz All rights reserved
About Author :
In the business world, Cheryl Perlitz is best known as the
author of the popular book, "Soaring Through Setbacks - Rise
above adversity - Reclaim your life" and her upcoming book
“Survival Tips Handbook.” 
