Yesterday, we conducted a paddling workshop, primarily aimed at helping people develop their rescue techniques. One pleasant byproduct was a textbook example of the ropes course effect.
I’ve alluded to this in a previous blog or two. The gist is that you present a series of challenges, mostly traversing ropes high in the trees. Many in the group will consider these beyond their abilities. With some encouragement and help, they accomplish what they had deemed impossible. This is interpreted as a metaphor and they transfer it to their challenges in life. Hopefully, being prudent and realistic.
A subset of yesterday’s group was some women into their sixth and seventh decades. Many aches and pains, and even a joint replacement. But, you wouldn’t hear that from them.
Unlike many ropes groups I’ve seen, they required little prodding. While they were very short on paddling experience, they attacked the exercises of rolling and rescuing in kayaks with abandon. Each new conquest brought squeals of elation and admiration from the rest of the group. At the end of the day, it was all but impossible to get them out of the water. They were demanding more. “Bring it on.”
It was a pleasure to watch. You go girl!
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