Resolutions on a new season: make it your year!

Spring has arrived and with it comes the promise of new adventures on the water. Sure, for folks living in warm climates it's always paddling season, but in the North Country ice-out means the beginning of a new year, ripe with wonderful possibilities. New waters to paddle and explore. Breathtaking new wildlife images to find and capture.

Regardless of where you live, Mother Nature adheres to her own calendar and it clearly begins with the rebirth and renewal of spring.

So in the spirit of nature's New Year, I'd like to share my resolutions:
•I resolve to be among the first paddlers on the water at ice-out and the last off the water at freeze up in the fall.
•I resolve to witness more sunrises from the seat of my boat.
•I resolve to read more books about high adventure and amazing journeys so that my own goals will not be bound by restrictive thinking.
•I resolve to 'sneak in' more paddles, even on the busiest days. Slipping away for 45 minutes of paddling during lunch can leave me renewed and feeling like I got away with something.
•I resolve to speak to school groups and try to foster in children a fascination and excitement for the natural world.
•I resolve to frequently tell my wife and constant paddling partner, Jean, how fun and fulfilling she makes my life every day. Without her, I'd be going in circles (and so would my boat).
•I resolve to finally build that photo blind for my boat that I've been mentally designing for the last six months.

How about you? Is this the year that you capture that dream photo? The one that makes your friends gasp when they first view it? Maybe it's finally time to thread your way back into those intriguing wetlands that are only accessible by kayak and experience the wildlife that awaits you there. Perhaps it's time to stop at the scenic little bridge that you've driven over a thousand times. You've always resolved to someday paddle the waters that flow below it: is this the year?

At the end of the year, will you be looking back fondly at a season packed with great paddling memories or will you be among the ranks of sad souls that will be muttering 'Next year, I'm really going to get out there more often...';

Buy the boat. Take the trip. Find the time. Make the memories.

Paddle. Explore. Live.

--John Van Den Brandt