Don't Drown Your Waders
The Turning Feral Journal - Day 21
Day 21: Let me start today off by saying that I am *not* a fisherman. I have not yet caught the bug to be out in the river casting a line to fly fish for hours (though it does look peaceful). So my perspective on the ol’ fishing saying “don’t flood your waders,” comes from my time river trapping… and boy did I wish I heard of that saying before I started.
For people like myself who may have not spent a lot of time in rivers throughout their life, waders are usually chest high, insulated, and waterproof overalls that you wear over your clothes so you can safely wade out into water to fish or trap. My first pair was made of cheap plastic, which I picked up at D&B for a little under $75. They worked great for my first season and somehow managed to stay “hole” free despite the dense woods I often had to push through to get to the river's edge or to beaver lodges I was targeting.
But last year the inevitable happened. While working in a deep beaver pond, I could feel the weight of the water compressing my waders a little bit above my waist. I didn’t think it was a big deal because I was above the water line and instead focused on my task at hand… which involved bending over to set up traps underwater.
On the second or third trap set, I had forgotten about the depth of the water and leaned just one inch too far down, which allowed the tiniest bit of water to breach the chest high top of my waders… followed by a torrent of cold river water that completely flooded my suit. In shock, I clipped out of my waders and swam to shore thinking about how dumb I was for not paying more attention — a hard lesson to learn and an even harder one to try and fish my suit out of that deep pond. Once I warmed up in my truck, I had some time to think about that saying “don’t flood your waders.” I had just experienced it in its most pure form, but people apply it to all sorts of everyday life situations… and it got me thinking about how great of a metaphor it really is.
We all wear proverbial “waders” everyday… think of it as your capacity to do work and provide. Your waders allow you to complete your day job, spend time with family, pursue new outside interests, etc… But, there is a limit and we often forget where our chest line is at relative to the water. Then, when we take on just one tiny thing that is “too much,” our entire waders are flooded and everything they were protecting us from becomes useless in an instant and will need to be “dried out and tended to” to be usable again.
I’m not saying to never stretch beyond your comfort zone, but I am saying to not lose sight of what your waders are protecting and what you have chosen to prioritize… sometimes it’s the tiniest things you may say “yes” to that can do you in… so, be conscious and aware of what you commit to or you may be at risk of flooding your waders!
Daily Prompt: Can you think of an instance where saying yes to something seemingly benign ended up hurting other areas of your life you were trying to prioritize? How can you ensure that you “know where your chest line is” moving forward?:
Motivational Passage:
No man ever steps in the same river twice, for it's not the same river and he's not the same man.
-Heraclitus
Rewilding Action: If you plan to be in the backcountry in an area with rivers or small lakes, buying a pair of waders can open up a new world of exploration. You don’t have to break the bank, and a simple $50-$100 pair will do. Take a trip with them and step out into a small stream, lake, or water source and get a whole new perspective on an area! PS: They can also be a lifesaver if you are a hunter and you shoot an animal who then runs across a river or creek… being cold and dry beats being cold and wet every time.
I enjoy reading your posts daily. Keep up the great work!