Posted by
Susan

When asked about their feelings on the “road less travelled”,  Tokii members stated 86% of men and 78% of women members said they preferred the uncommon over the tried and true, does that include “ice roads”?

When winter comes here in the north, a whole new world opens up. The lakes, accessible only by watercraft in the summer, are now ribboned with ice roads and trails for any number of winter activities. There are so many lakes up here that if we didn’t use them in winter, we wouldn’t be able to do much in the way of winter recreation. Ice is our playground.

I moved up here as a young adult, I hadn’t been on lake ice before. The first time that I HAD to, it was “black ice”, clear all the way through and a very dark night. It’s like stepping into outer space, nothing below you, a void. I was terrified, I was told it was thick enough to support me, but it sure didn’t feel safe. However, skating on “black ice” is so cool, you can go anywhere, because there is no snow, it’s a giant ice rink. A giant ice rink that groans and cracks as you move along it. All my senses were telling me that it was crazy to be out there, that it was completely unsafe, but the experts, the people who have known the ice year after year, had tested it and knew there was no risk. They assured me that even ice that is four feet thick, will crack beneath my movements yet put me at no risk and 6 inches is safe for walking.

It’s been a warm winter so far, and the ice on my lake has only recently frozen thick enough to allow walking and the use of an ATV. I’m always reminded, when I see the first foot tracks leading to the lake, of those first times when I had to step out in trust onto the smooth field of ice.

Relationships can be like that. You may have been burned a time or two, but that’s part of your education. You can take the sores and nurture them, or you can tend them, heal them and learn from them. Stepping into a relationship or deepening the one you have, is a lot like stepping onto the ice. If you learn as much as you can, if you respect it, pay attention to it, then there is nothing to be afraid of.

Sadly, in colder climates, many people spend their winters indoors, because they are afraid to enjoy the winter playground. Winter is long and hard when you are trapped indoors.**

Love is like the ice, if you won’t let your heart glide across it’s surface because you’re afraid, then you’ll never know the true thrill of it all.

If we don’t take risks in our lives and relationships, then neither grow. We may stay safe, and may even feel content, but outrageous joy is a gift given to those who trust, risk and live life to the boundaries of it’s potential.

Today, take a risk, trust the partner you have to hold you up. They may, at times crack and groan from sharing the load, but if you let them, you might find that love will support you both.

Head to Tokii for Couples and play the Step Into The Void DiscoveryGame today.

Then join the conversation on Facebook and on Twitter @TokiiLife