{"id":31439,"date":"2024-01-09T15:00:03","date_gmt":"2024-01-09T23:00:03","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/community.nrs.com\/?p=31439"},"modified":"2024-01-13T08:41:05","modified_gmt":"2024-01-13T16:41:05","slug":"grace-like-a-river-embracing-imperfection-on-wild-sheep","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/community.nrs.com\/duct-tape\/2024\/01\/09\/grace-like-a-river-embracing-imperfection-on-wild-sheep\/","title":{"rendered":"Grace Like a River: Embracing Imperfection on Wild Sheep"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">From the corner of my eye, I glimpse Casey, waist-deep in the trough of a wave, clinging to a cooler strap with one hand and attempting to shoulder-press our 60-pound dog back into the boat with the other. All while we teeter dangerously on edge. I dangle by my ankle, which is mercifully hooked on a sidebox. Cursing, I scramble back to the oars. I pull twice on my left oar to straighten us out as I blindly grope the air behind me and try to hoist both boy and dog back into the boat but manage only ineffectual whacks in their general direction. My heart hammers audibly. We bob through the tail waves.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">We make it through Wild Sheep upright. Just barely. \u201cI\u2019m so sorry! I\u2019m so sorry, I\u2026 I\u2026I don\u2019t\u2026 I\u2019m sorry,\u201d I whisper.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<div id='gallery-1' class='gallery galleryid-31439 gallery-columns-3 gallery-size-thumbnail'><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/community.nrs.com\/duct-tape\/2024\/01\/09\/grace-like-a-river-embracing-imperfection-on-wild-sheep\/eboomer_snake_20180523-1290\/'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"100\" height=\"100\" src=\"https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/08135715\/EBoomer_Snake_20180523-1290-100x100.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-1-31484\" srcset=\"https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/08135715\/EBoomer_Snake_20180523-1290-100x100.jpg 100w, https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/08135715\/EBoomer_Snake_20180523-1290-24x24.jpg 24w, https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/08135715\/EBoomer_Snake_20180523-1290-48x48.jpg 48w, https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/08135715\/EBoomer_Snake_20180523-1290-96x96.jpg 96w, https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/08135715\/EBoomer_Snake_20180523-1290-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/08135715\/EBoomer_Snake_20180523-1290-300x300.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 100px) 100vw, 100px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<figcaption class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-1-31484'>\n\t\t\t\t(C) Erik Boomer\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/community.nrs.com\/duct-tape\/2024\/01\/09\/grace-like-a-river-embracing-imperfection-on-wild-sheep\/eboomer_snake_20180523-1410\/'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"100\" height=\"100\" src=\"https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/08140155\/EBoomer_Snake_20180523-1410-100x100.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-1-31488\" srcset=\"https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/08140155\/EBoomer_Snake_20180523-1410-100x100.jpg 100w, https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/08140155\/EBoomer_Snake_20180523-1410-24x24.jpg 24w, https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/08140155\/EBoomer_Snake_20180523-1410-48x48.jpg 48w, https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/08140155\/EBoomer_Snake_20180523-1410-96x96.jpg 96w, https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/08140155\/EBoomer_Snake_20180523-1410-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/08140155\/EBoomer_Snake_20180523-1410-300x300.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 100px) 100vw, 100px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<figcaption class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-1-31488'>\n\t\t\t\t(C) Erik Boomer\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/community.nrs.com\/duct-tape\/2024\/01\/09\/grace-like-a-river-embracing-imperfection-on-wild-sheep\/eboomer_snake_20180523-1419\/'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"100\" height=\"100\" src=\"https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/08140205\/EBoomer_Snake_20180523-1419-100x100.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-1-31489\" srcset=\"https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/08140205\/EBoomer_Snake_20180523-1419-100x100.jpg 100w, https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/08140205\/EBoomer_Snake_20180523-1419-24x24.jpg 24w, https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/08140205\/EBoomer_Snake_20180523-1419-48x48.jpg 48w, https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/08140205\/EBoomer_Snake_20180523-1419-96x96.jpg 96w, https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/08140205\/EBoomer_Snake_20180523-1419-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/08140205\/EBoomer_Snake_20180523-1419-300x300.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 100px) 100vw, 100px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<figcaption class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-1-31489'>\n\t\t\t\t(C) Erik Boomer\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Wild Sheep is the first Class IV rapid in Hells Canyon on the Snake River. At some water levels, there\u2019s a line on the right. Sometimes, there\u2019s one down the middle. Most often, though, the line is to enter left and move center. I\u2019ve seen boaters use varying ferry angles in their approach, but always with the same objective: avoid the chompy feature bottom left. There\u2019s a steep drop there, and it\u2019s always bigger than it looks. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Despite knowing this\u2014well\u2014that steep drop is exactly where I took us. How. Did. This. Happen?<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-31466 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/08102736\/DTD24_WildSheep_Lou-Behnke.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1800\" height=\"1200\" srcset=\"https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/08102736\/DTD24_WildSheep_Lou-Behnke.jpg 1800w, https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/08102736\/DTD24_WildSheep_Lou-Behnke-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/08102736\/DTD24_WildSheep_Lou-Behnke-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/08102736\/DTD24_WildSheep_Lou-Behnke-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/08102736\/DTD24_WildSheep_Lou-Behnke-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1800px) 100vw, 1800px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cIt\u2019s okay. We\u2019re okay. Everything is okay,\u201d Casey reassures me in the pond below the rapid. Like my boat 20 seconds earlier, I am teetering on the edge, and my partner can tell. I\u2019ve rowed Wild Sheep at least once every year since 10th grade. This was my third time\u00a0<\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">this\u00a0<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">year. I guide on this river. Yet, I almost just flipped.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cWooo-hooo!\u201d My dad shouts as he floats up to us in his kayak, oblivious to my turmoil. \u201cWow! What a ride! How fun!\u201d His jubilance spills out like sunshine, and it hangs suspended in the air between us for a moment before he adds, \u201cYou seemed farther left than you said you\u2019d be.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cSure was,\u201d I grit out. Shaken, I mentally replay my line. I cannot believe I almost flipped in a rapid I run so often. I cannot believe I almost swam our dog. I cannot believe it is October and cold, and I almost flipped.<\/span><\/p>\n<div id='gallery-2' class='gallery galleryid-31439 gallery-columns-3 gallery-size-thumbnail'><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon portrait'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/community.nrs.com\/duct-tape\/2024\/01\/09\/grace-like-a-river-embracing-imperfection-on-wild-sheep\/hells-canyon-afternoon-views\/'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"100\" height=\"100\" src=\"https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/08101225\/Hells-Canyon-Afternoon-Views-100x100.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/08101225\/Hells-Canyon-Afternoon-Views-100x100.jpg 100w, https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/08101225\/Hells-Canyon-Afternoon-Views-24x24.jpg 24w, https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/08101225\/Hells-Canyon-Afternoon-Views-48x48.jpg 48w, https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/08101225\/Hells-Canyon-Afternoon-Views-96x96.jpg 96w, https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/08101225\/Hells-Canyon-Afternoon-Views-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/08101225\/Hells-Canyon-Afternoon-Views-300x300.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 100px) 100vw, 100px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/community.nrs.com\/duct-tape\/2024\/01\/09\/grace-like-a-river-embracing-imperfection-on-wild-sheep\/dtd24_wild-sheep-16x9-1\/'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"100\" height=\"100\" src=\"https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/08113808\/DTD24_Wild-Sheep-16x9-1-100x100.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/08113808\/DTD24_Wild-Sheep-16x9-1-100x100.jpg 100w, https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/08113808\/DTD24_Wild-Sheep-16x9-1-24x24.jpg 24w, https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/08113808\/DTD24_Wild-Sheep-16x9-1-48x48.jpg 48w, https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/08113808\/DTD24_Wild-Sheep-16x9-1-96x96.jpg 96w, https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/08113808\/DTD24_Wild-Sheep-16x9-1-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/08113808\/DTD24_Wild-Sheep-16x9-1-300x300.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 100px) 100vw, 100px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When waxing poetic about the lessons I\u2019ve learned from my decades on the river, I usually express gratitude for how the river encourages me to let go of Plan A. To be flexible and accept mistakes, to be satisfied with Plan B or C&#8230; or even D. To see failure as fluid; to be more like the graceful waters that glide over boulders and smoothly around obstacles. But that\u2019s hogwash. The truth is, I expect myself to execute Plan A with precision. I like my lines to be perfect.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Actually, I like most things in my life to be perfect. Unfortunately, I can spiral when they\u2019re not. If I have a bad line, I start to think that I\u2019m probably a bad boater, and if I\u2019m a bad boater, I\u2019m probably a bad guide, and if I\u2019m a bad guide, I\u2019m probably also a bad person. I want, at my core, to be a good person. To be a good boater, a good teacher, a good friend, creative, partner and daughter. I want to feel proud of my accomplishments <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">and<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0my efforts. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I don\u2019t often give myself grace, and it\u2019s hard to remember that there are variables outside my control. I cling tightly to control, and I often forget that my success at a task does not equate to my success as a person.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-31456 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/08101316\/Sunset-at-Salt.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1800\" height=\"1200\" srcset=\"https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/08101316\/Sunset-at-Salt.jpg 1800w, https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/08101316\/Sunset-at-Salt-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/08101316\/Sunset-at-Salt-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/08101316\/Sunset-at-Salt-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/08101316\/Sunset-at-Salt-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1800px) 100vw, 1800px\" \/><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For a moment, looking back upstream at Wild Sheep, I think about just giving the oars to Casey. I wrestle the impulse away; that&#8217;s not how I want to be. When the roar of Granite Rapid reaches us, I force a smile, and my grip tightens around the oars. \u201cHave a <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">fun<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> line,\u201d I say, in an attempt to trick myself out of feeling the pressure of \u201cperfect.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When I wax more honest, the lessons I\u2019ve learned from the river come from how it forces me to confront the parts of myself I don\u2019t want to think about but know I should. My perfectionism (and its false entwinement with my self-worth) shows up prominently when I boat. It can be uncomfortable for someone as self-critical as me to stare so openly at my mistakes. My imperfectly executed moves replay in my head like a churning hydraulic, cyclical and sometimes violent. I&#8217;m not the graceful water adapting to the obstacles around me. Instead, ungovernable currents thrash forcefully around me. Yet, I keep coming back.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-31452 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/08101246\/Me-Rowing-with-Seppi-Casey-Pagels.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1800\" height=\"1200\" srcset=\"https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/08101246\/Me-Rowing-with-Seppi-Casey-Pagels.jpg 1800w, https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/08101246\/Me-Rowing-with-Seppi-Casey-Pagels-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/08101246\/Me-Rowing-with-Seppi-Casey-Pagels-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/08101246\/Me-Rowing-with-Seppi-Casey-Pagels-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/08101246\/Me-Rowing-with-Seppi-Casey-Pagels-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1800px) 100vw, 1800px\" \/><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It seems unlikely to crave a return to a place of such discomfort, but I do. I think it\u2019s because, for all the painful reminders of my inadequacies, the river can be a forgiving teacher. She holds space for me to try again. The river holds no grudges. <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">She\u00a0<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">doesn\u2019t remember what kind of boater I once was, every time meeting me exactly where I am. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">That\u2019s a lesson I strive to carry with me into my relationships and into the classroom. I try not to remember what mistakes my students made yesterday, treating each day as a new chance for them to show me who they can be. I try not to be limited by old habits or patterns in relationships. Each day is a new opportunity to be different, better even, than I was before. We can outgrow ourselves if we have the chance.<\/span><\/p>\n<div id='gallery-3' class='gallery galleryid-31439 gallery-columns-3 gallery-size-thumbnail'><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon portrait'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/community.nrs.com\/duct-tape\/2024\/01\/09\/grace-like-a-river-embracing-imperfection-on-wild-sheep\/casey-and-seppi\/'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"100\" height=\"100\" src=\"https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/08101121\/Casey-and-Seppi-100x100.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/08101121\/Casey-and-Seppi-100x100.jpg 100w, https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/08101121\/Casey-and-Seppi-24x24.jpg 24w, https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/08101121\/Casey-and-Seppi-48x48.jpg 48w, https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/08101121\/Casey-and-Seppi-96x96.jpg 96w, https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/08101121\/Casey-and-Seppi-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/08101121\/Casey-and-Seppi-300x300.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 100px) 100vw, 100px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/community.nrs.com\/duct-tape\/2024\/01\/09\/grace-like-a-river-embracing-imperfection-on-wild-sheep\/suicide-point-hc\/'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"100\" height=\"100\" src=\"https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/08101300\/Suicide-Point-HC-100x100.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/08101300\/Suicide-Point-HC-100x100.jpg 100w, https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/08101300\/Suicide-Point-HC-24x24.jpg 24w, https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/08101300\/Suicide-Point-HC-48x48.jpg 48w, https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/08101300\/Suicide-Point-HC-96x96.jpg 96w, https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/08101300\/Suicide-Point-HC-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/08101300\/Suicide-Point-HC-300x300.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 100px) 100vw, 100px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon portrait'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/community.nrs.com\/duct-tape\/2024\/01\/09\/grace-like-a-river-embracing-imperfection-on-wild-sheep\/the-three-of-us-in-the-boat\/'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"100\" height=\"100\" src=\"https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/08101321\/The-Three-of-us-in-the-boat-100x100.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/08101321\/The-Three-of-us-in-the-boat-100x100.jpg 100w, https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/08101321\/The-Three-of-us-in-the-boat-24x24.jpg 24w, https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/08101321\/The-Three-of-us-in-the-boat-48x48.jpg 48w, https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/08101321\/The-Three-of-us-in-the-boat-96x96.jpg 96w, https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/08101321\/The-Three-of-us-in-the-boat-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/08101321\/The-Three-of-us-in-the-boat-300x300.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 100px) 100vw, 100px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I keep coming back to this river that humbles me because even though I\u2019ll never have complete control, I get to practice flexibility. I keep coming back because it reminds me that Plan B can turn out just fine. And if it\u2019s fine on the river, it might also be fine at work. Or during that difficult conversation that I didn\u2019t handle exactly how I wanted to. I keep coming back because it reminds me that I don\u2019t have to be perfect to have fun. I can grant myself grace. I\u2019m okay; we\u2019re okay.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The river is a paradox. All summer, she\u2019ll build your confidence tall with clean lines and smooth pivots. She\u2019ll make your muscles swell with strength, and you\u2019ll feel invincible. But at any moment, she could humble you with a single wave. She might even toss the things you love most in this world, a boy and a dog, overboard right along with your pride.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I was wholly sobered at the bottom of Wild Sheep. But I was also okay. On the tail of humility comes motivation. I\u2019ll be back, and I won\u2019t be perfect. But I\u2019ll get the chance to try.<\/span><\/p>\n<div id='gallery-4' class='gallery galleryid-31439 gallery-columns-3 gallery-size-thumbnail'><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon portrait'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/community.nrs.com\/duct-tape\/2024\/01\/09\/grace-like-a-river-embracing-imperfection-on-wild-sheep\/me-on-boat-casey-pagels\/'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"100\" height=\"100\" src=\"https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/08101234\/Me-on-boat-Casey-Pagels-100x100.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/08101234\/Me-on-boat-Casey-Pagels-100x100.jpg 100w, https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/08101234\/Me-on-boat-Casey-Pagels-24x24.jpg 24w, https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/08101234\/Me-on-boat-Casey-Pagels-48x48.jpg 48w, https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/08101234\/Me-on-boat-Casey-Pagels-96x96.jpg 96w, https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/08101234\/Me-on-boat-Casey-Pagels-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/08101234\/Me-on-boat-Casey-Pagels-300x300.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 100px) 100vw, 100px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/community.nrs.com\/duct-tape\/2024\/01\/09\/grace-like-a-river-embracing-imperfection-on-wild-sheep\/me-rowing-in-hells-casey-pagels\/'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"100\" height=\"100\" src=\"https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/08101240\/Me-Rowing-in-Hells-Casey-Pagels-100x100.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/08101240\/Me-Rowing-in-Hells-Casey-Pagels-100x100.jpg 100w, https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/08101240\/Me-Rowing-in-Hells-Casey-Pagels-24x24.jpg 24w, https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/08101240\/Me-Rowing-in-Hells-Casey-Pagels-48x48.jpg 48w, https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/08101240\/Me-Rowing-in-Hells-Casey-Pagels-96x96.jpg 96w, https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/08101240\/Me-Rowing-in-Hells-Casey-Pagels-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/08101240\/Me-Rowing-in-Hells-Casey-Pagels-300x300.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 100px) 100vw, 100px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">***<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>Editor&#8217;s note: Images courtesy of Jasmine Wilhelm, Lou Behnke and Erik Boomer.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>From the corner of my eye, I glimpse Casey, waist-deep in the trough of a wave, clinging to a cooler strap with one hand and&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":48000,"featured_media":31521,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[336],"tags":[93,29,316,32,120],"class_list":["post-31439","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-explore","tag-guiding","tag-nrs-culture","tag-rafting","tag-whitewater","tag-women-boaters","post-grid"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.4 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Grace Like a River: Embracing Imperfection on Wild Sheep | Duct Tape Diaries | NRS<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"In theory, Jasmine Wilhelm knows that perfect isn&#039;t always possible\u2014or practical. A near-flip on Wild Sheep Rapid helps drive the lesson home.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/community.nrs.com\/duct-tape\/2024\/01\/09\/grace-like-a-river-embracing-imperfection-on-wild-sheep\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Grace Like a River: Embracing Imperfection on Wild Sheep\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"A near-flip on Wild Sheep rapid reminds Jasmine Wilhelm that the river is the best teacher when it comes to embracing imperfection.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/community.nrs.com\/duct-tape\/2024\/01\/09\/grace-like-a-river-embracing-imperfection-on-wild-sheep\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Duct Tape Diaries\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nrsweb\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2024-01-09T23:00:03+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2024-01-13T16:41:05+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/community.nrs.com\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/16x9-Wild-Sheep.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1800\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"1012\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Jasmine Wilhelm\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@nrsweb\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@nrsweb\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Jasmine Wilhelm\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"6 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/community.nrs.com\\\/duct-tape\\\/2024\\\/01\\\/09\\\/grace-like-a-river-embracing-imperfection-on-wild-sheep\\\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/community.nrs.com\\\/duct-tape\\\/2024\\\/01\\\/09\\\/grace-like-a-river-embracing-imperfection-on-wild-sheep\\\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Jasmine Wilhelm\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/community.nrs.com\\\/duct-tape\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/5acebaa9c173e9af762aea56401e2292\"},\"headline\":\"Grace Like a River: Embracing Imperfection on Wild Sheep\",\"datePublished\":\"2024-01-09T23:00:03+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2024-01-13T16:41:05+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/community.nrs.com\\\/duct-tape\\\/2024\\\/01\\\/09\\\/grace-like-a-river-embracing-imperfection-on-wild-sheep\\\/\"},\"wordCount\":1199,\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/community.nrs.com\\\/duct-tape\\\/2024\\\/01\\\/09\\\/grace-like-a-river-embracing-imperfection-on-wild-sheep\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\\\/duct-tape\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2024\\\/01\\\/12095923\\\/EBoomer_Snake_20180523-1419-edit.jpg\",\"keywords\":[\"guiding\",\"nrs culture\",\"rafting\",\"whitewater\",\"women boaters\"],\"articleSection\":[\"Explore\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/community.nrs.com\\\/duct-tape\\\/2024\\\/01\\\/09\\\/grace-like-a-river-embracing-imperfection-on-wild-sheep\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/community.nrs.com\\\/duct-tape\\\/2024\\\/01\\\/09\\\/grace-like-a-river-embracing-imperfection-on-wild-sheep\\\/\",\"name\":\"Grace Like a River: Embracing Imperfection on Wild Sheep | Duct Tape Diaries | NRS\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/community.nrs.com\\\/duct-tape\\\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/community.nrs.com\\\/duct-tape\\\/2024\\\/01\\\/09\\\/grace-like-a-river-embracing-imperfection-on-wild-sheep\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/community.nrs.com\\\/duct-tape\\\/2024\\\/01\\\/09\\\/grace-like-a-river-embracing-imperfection-on-wild-sheep\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\\\/duct-tape\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2024\\\/01\\\/12095923\\\/EBoomer_Snake_20180523-1419-edit.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2024-01-09T23:00:03+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2024-01-13T16:41:05+00:00\",\"author\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/community.nrs.com\\\/duct-tape\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/5acebaa9c173e9af762aea56401e2292\"},\"description\":\"In theory, Jasmine Wilhelm knows that perfect isn't always possible\u2014or practical. 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