The River Looks Different From the Top

I was listening to White Man’s World by Jason Isbell when the thought landed sideways.

“I’m a white man living in a white man’s world.”

Not accusatory. Not defensive. Just… observational. Like naming the current you’re already floating in.

And for some reason, it made me think about kayaking.

When you’re standing at the top of a mountain, the climb never looks that bad. The switchbacks disappear. The loose rock blends into the trail. You forget how many times you stopped to catch your breath.

Rivers do the same thing.