The Role of Shared Experience in Relationship

When I used to do more whitewater kayaking - it was always cool to meet up with other paddlers - you were instantly connected because well - we're a rare breed and engaging danger somehow bonds people. A shared experience in dealing with any obstacle somehow builds or cements relationships. Climbing rock or ice is the same thing, once you've trusted another person with your life - there is a connection that stays with you. What does danger do to relationships?

The previous quote actually comes from a response I submitted from a previous blogpost. How does a shared experience of going through struggle, trouble, or danger if you will unite people? If you think of the significant friends you have developed over the years, there is always a story that captures that relationship. Something that makes you laugh or cry when you recall it or share it with another.

Remember when...you broke your arm? you wiped out over that jump? I lost control of my dad's truck two days after passing my drivers' test and ended up going through a ditch full of snow & water? When we traveled to Israel and our bus window exploded because of some Palestinian throwing a rock at us? When we paddled the White River? When we climbed Mt. Jacques Cartier? When we paddled the Ocoee River? When we mountain biked Tsali in North Carolina? When we saw those northern lights at Red Rock?

Each of those queries are real stories about my life that I share with someone else. Each of those stories helped shape who we are both as individuals but more importantly as friends. There is a camaraderie that exists on a heavenly plane it seems when we go to war together as soldiers, when we take on a wild descent with a bike or kayak, when we face danger head on together! Band of Brothers is my all-time favorite mini-series which captures how men become brothers through facing the trials of life & death on the battlefield of world war two.

What events took place in your life to make you the man or woman you are today?

My guess is that other people were involved in those events.

What stories & what relationships have shaped you?

One of my key aims in life is to live a full life! A life marked by adventure, by passion, by relationships, by stories, by wide-eyed wonder! Isn't that what explore play is all about?

Red Rock Reunion & Quick Escape on Monday

It was great to be back at Red Rock on Sunday - I don't get out there as much as I used to other than for staff-training in July. We decided to go for the day and got there to join their chapel service at 11. It was in part to celebrate the cyclathon but also from 3pm on was an alumni reunion. It was good to see some former campers (later on staff) - especially my mountain bike/out-trip campers! Also some CIT's that Wendy & I directed, along with the CIT counselors from Summer of 99. The girls had a blast down at the beach even though we'd forgotten to bring swimsuits. We just let them play in the water with what they were wearing and I think it made it more exciting. Zach did awesome and seemed to enjoy being handed off from female to female. It was his first significant road trip other than to Winnipeg - I can't imagine us having that mobile after three weeks with our first two. Back then we basically stayed in our house for a month.

Monday, I had my first conflict management class which I'm auditing at a graduate level - it should make my interpersonal processes class even more substantial. Then I escaped for a good but short mtn bike excursion with Pat & Paul - 9.8kms on the Suicide Ridge trail system. We explored that extra loop that I found a few weeks ago and found some pretty steep ascents/descents that made for some whoops & hollers & a few wipeouts. Lots of ticks though - although for some reason I didn't have a lot - helps to stay on the track.