rivers

/ hilarypoyer

“What I love most about rivers is:
You can’t step in the same river twice
The water’s always changing, always flowing”


Pocahontas got it right as she sang in her canoe. 



I wish I had a canoe. And a nearby river. That way, I could chill with my pet raccoon and hummingbird as I sort out my mind. So many decisions, opportunities, possibilities. As I’ve graduated and partly moved home, I’ve thought a lot about rivers. Because life is like a river. As much as you want things to stay the same, they don’t. Life is always changing. People are always coming in and going out of your life. The scenery changes so quickly. And circumstances rarely remain the same forever. 


Sometimes it’s hard to think about what’s around the riverbend because I’m looking behind my canoe at the water I just crossed over. There’s lots of water I’ve recently crossed over. 

I ran a 1/2 marathon with my bestie…

I graduated…

I planted an herb garden…

When I do look ahead, I see much more water. There’s also rocks ahead that will make the canoe ride quite turbulent. These rocks I’ve named the “NCLEX”. 

So, I’ve set up the most ideal study area…
coffee, chapstick, candle, lotion, jelly belly’s, music, Hurst review…

This river of life is wide and long and winding. And sometimes it’s scary. Sometimes it’s exciting. Sometimes it’s rough. Sometimes it’s beautiful. And almost always, there’s a big fat question mark in the middle of the river. You never know exactly what’s around the riverbend.

Pocahontas’ song ends in many questions. I love that. Because there isn’t always a clear answer…more often than not, additional questions answer the first question. 

“Should I choose the smoothest curve
Steady as the beating drum?
Should I marry Kocoum?
Is all my dreaming at an end?
Or do you still wait for me, Dream Giver
Just around the riverbend?”

Despite all the questions, I give thanks for the river. I give thanks for life and breath. I give thanks for the journey. I give thanks for the companions that come alongside. And I give thanks for the Canoe that keeps me afloat. 

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