Do you know whose in your boat? My husband surprised me for my birthday by taking me kayaking. I've been wanting to try kayaking for a few years now. It's been a thought that hasn't turned into an action. So my husband took me.

As we were putting on our life jackets, I knew I was really about to get into a small boat and be in the middle of a body of water. Did I tell you all that I do not know how to swim in deep waters? Deep water is anything I cannot stand up in and my head be above the water.

The gentleman whom we rented the boat from was guiding us into the kayak. He also provided us with a quick tutorial on how to use the paddles. After 5 minutes, we were off, in the middle of the water kayaking upstream!

I asked the question about if you knew who was in the boat with you because it's critical to your success in this life! Ok!

My husband and I quickly learned the following:

#1. We needed to paddle at the same time; if not the boat would not know which direction to go.

#2. Communicate, communicate, communicate: if one of us wanted to go in a certain direction we had to speak loudly and often due to being in the water, birds chirping and we were sitting directly one behind the other (that made it hard to hear one another clearly)

#3. Be open-minded. Let me reiterate that, open your mind. If your partner makes a suggestion on how to maneuver the kayak (insert what your kayak represents i.e. Relationship, employer, teacher, etc.). It just may work.

#4. Say something when you are tired. Paddling a boat can become tiresome and you may need to take a break.

#5. Enjoy the journey. It was beautiful to be in the water, being one with nature.

#6. Expect the unexpected. Birds were flying over us and pooping in the water. We also hit a wall trying to steer the kayak in the right direction as we moved up-streamed.

Who is in your boat? Your squad? Your girls? Your colleagues?

Can you trust them to steer you in the right direction when you veer of course?

When you have unexpected life happenings will they be there to help you?

Are you communicating when you need to make a life change?

It's so important to know who you are in the boat with. If you don't you may not make it upstream and back to the dock. You could topple over and be floating in the water with your life jacket on.

Bianca Cotton is the Founder of Behind the Confident Smile, a lover of Christ, wife, and mom who enjoys dealing hope to women all over the world.

6 Lessons I Learned: The kayaking experience