Reasonble-less

The lovely Wilson's Creek Gorge

It rained.  Not as much here as we had expected, but still, we were checking all the gauges, paddles at the ready.  But then it seemed clear that none of the local rivers were up quite enough and we started doing other things-work things.  It was a Friday, after all, a harvest day before Saturday markets.
But then I get the call, 10:30 a.m.  We can paddle Wilson’s Creek Gorge (one of my all-time favorites) with my favorite paddler, Roger.  I hesitate. It feels crazy. I did vow never to turn down an opportunity to paddle with Roger, AND it’s Wilson Creek, but it’s FRIDAY! It’s unreasonable.  It’s insane.  I know I have the most competent excellent crew in our farm history, but STILL it feels crazy to let go and play hooky on a Friday.

​Then I remember the lesson I learned from Chip and Dan Heath, “never underestimate the soul-sucking force of reasonableness.”  And then, I remember my own philosophy developed, in no small part, from that same lesson: “Just say yes”.

So, after repeating those mantras seventeen times, I said yes.  And we headed off to play on the river in one of the most beautiful places I’ve been.  And, of course, we left there with our wide grins, riding high and fully energized for the work that lay ahead of us too early the next morning. 

These are lessons I’ve learned over and over again, yet still I can’t help but hesitate in the face of a decision between play and work.  It’s years of training and work ethic, but those are the things that have gotten us to the place where we can choose play over work occasionally.  And so, my friends, in case you, too, could benefit from a little shift in your universe, I shall quote Chip and Dan Heath once again, “Never underestimate the soul-sucking force of reasonableness.”

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