“Wananavu” that is Fijian for Awesome!! We learned that whilst white water rafting through the canyons in Fiji and Wananavu pretty much summed up the scenery. When you think of Fiji you probably have a vision of an island with sandy beaches and palm trees. What we discovered was not only do they have the beaches, but a rain forest with villages along the way that are breathtaking.
Fiji was in drought when we arrived and it had not rained in four months. Our guide on the raft told us that the water level had dropped by a good three metres through the canyon which resulted in us having to paddle a bit more than normal as the flow of water that usually pushes the raft along is not there. It also meant that some rocks surface that are not usually there which meant we got stuck a few times.
I watched as our guide sat at the back of the raft rowing from his high position and looking ahead at any rocks and obstacles. You could tell that he loved to problem solve and with the water dropping at such a rapid level each week he was presented with new obstacles and challenges. It goes to show that even when you are doing the same thing that the landscape can change and you have to adapt to a new way in which you tackle a problem.
There was a particular spot on the river where off to the side a tree had fallen many years ago and formed a bridge in front a waterfall. It would have made a spectacular postcard! Due to the drought the tree was about seven metres in the air and below it were rocks. A few months earlier you would have considered walking across this tree knowing that 4 metres below there was a good amount of water. If the water level rose sit only a metre below the tree you would have no hesitation in attempting the crossing. This got me thinking about consequences. The tree never changed but the consequences of falling did.
With any decision there is a consequence and possible various possible outcomes. It depends on our risk profile and what we are prepared to accept as a consequence for our actions as to what we will take on. To fall from a height of seven metres onto rocks is going to produce a different result as to falling one metre into a deep river. If the river is flowing fast and there is a waterfall just up the stream it will again change our perception of the risk in crossing the tree.
The lesson is that the world is forever changing and just because it was ‘too risky’ to make a decision six months ago on a career move or something in your life doesn’t mean that you can’t revisit it now to assess how the land lies.
Who knows you might cross to the other side and the result could be more Wananavu than you could have imagined!
Chris Bellesini
Remember, You Too, Can
Choose Your Own Success
