To live in the vast wilderness or to overcome everyday challenges, you need have the right attitude. In the pouring rain, in the tumultuous rapids or preparing the camp, the fifteen Magpie adventurers took up the challenge handily … singing!
“On the Magpie/beautiful Magpie/campers still asleep,” sing together Marc-André Galbrand and Catherine Provost, to the tune of Lion King to awaken participants to the fifth day of expedition on the river. In tents, some begin to sing or to clap. A good morning start.
Barely out of their tents, the campers get busy putting away their sleeping bag and mats before enjoying a good breakfast. Around the fire, the song game, which has lasted throughout the journey, continues. To make a point, you have to continue someone’s lyrics to name a song. “Music can provide a more positive attitude,” says Madi, leading to the song game, followed by Jean-Christophe, Gabrielle and Aurélie.
Before boarding our rafts, Catherine teaches us the On the Tip of the Toes Foundation anthem, a tradition established in 2000 on Ellesmere Island by Annick Dufresne, a former executive director and Co-founder of On the Tip of the Toes Foundation.
Then Amy, one of our guides, came to read a word on the importance of a winning attitude. Here it is:
“With experience, I realized how crucial attitude is in life. To me, the attitude is more important than facts. Attitude is more important than the past, education, money, circumstances, failures, successes, and what people think or do. It is more important than appearance, skills or gifts of nature. It can save or destroy a business trip or even a family. But what is remarkable is that every day we can choose what attitude we adopt. We cannot change the past, we cannot change how people act and we cannot change the inevitable. The only thing in our control is our attitude. I believe that 10% of life is what happens and 90% comes from the way I reacted. Embrace life every day with the right attitude. Enjoy every moment and capture the magic of the moment.”
At that moment, the magic begins to operate. For the rest of the day, a champion atmosphere prevailed on the group. Despite the fatigue, wet clothes, three portages, good humour was present to take full advantage of the last rapids, plunging nearly 3 metres high!
At times, it was the song “I will survive” or “Stand by me” that resounded on rafts, echoing the moment well. When we arrived at the camp, there was a storm, but the rain did not stop the troops, having fun in the rain and unloading the boats. Despite the terrible weather today, the participants’ attitude made all the difference.
Then, the rain stops and the weather clears up in the distance. The song “I Can See Clearly Now, the rain is gone/I can see all the obstacles in my way” is quite appropriate. On a freshly cleared site, we set up tents in an ancient forest where peat moss is hanging in the trees. After finding a dry spot, Catherine, Marc-André, Aurélie and Alexia alternate the Ukulele to sing and dance around the fire to the beat of Bob Marley tunes, Johnny Cash, Vance Joyce and Justin Bieber.
To regain strength before the last portaging segment of the journey, we enjoy a warm comforting chili. Another good supper that will help keep the right attitude: the key success.