There may be no greater metaphor for life than canoeing. To step into a canoe is to step into a partnership. A relationship. A team. As partners, you decide your destination and work together to get yourselves there—each of you contributing a different role.

If you’re in the bow, your job is to set the pace and provide the power for forward momentum. You’re the “eyes” of the team, reading the river and looking ahead for obstacles. The stern paddler controls the direction of the canoe. They also supply some power, but balance their strokes to complement those of the person in front.

Power without direction is aimless.

Direction without power gets you nowhere.

Working against each other just spins you in circles.

Deciding where to go takes discussion and agreement. Navigating along the way requires constant communication and consistent effort. The paddler in front tells the paddler in back where to point the canoe based on what they see ahead. The paddler in back instructs the one in front what stroke and what force to use to get there. Leadership alternates constantly between the two. Each has to have the confidence and knowledge to give good direction. Each has to trust the other completely.

Around you the river flows with its own force and direction. Sometimes it will take you where you want to go. Save your energy. Go with the flow. Sometimes you’ll have a different direction in mind. That’s when you’ll have to dig in hard, together.

Sometimes the the force of the river, an unforeseen obstacle, miscommunication, or overreaction will swamp the canoe. The thing to remember when that happens—and it will—is that a canoe will never sink. Don’t abandon it. Hold on. At the very least, it will keep you afloat.

In life, you are always in a canoe with someone. Your patrol is a canoe. So is your classroom, your family, your sports team, you friendships. The roles and responsibilities may be different, but all require teamwork, communication, trust, and effort.

With those four qualities, you and your canoe will be on your way to an incredible journey.