I like swimming… in a pool. I like the scent of chlorine within the morning and coconut sunscreen within the afternoon. I grew up in water – with a few of my earliest reminiscences on an Oklahoma lake consuming…

I like swimming… in a pool. I like the scent of chlorine within the morning and coconut sunscreen within the afternoon. I grew up in water – with a few of my earliest reminiscences on an Oklahoma lake consuming fritos and studying to water ski.

I like the ocean – the texture of salt and sound of crashing waves. I like sitting on a board because the swell lifts and lowers gently whilst you watch the solar rise.

That mentioned… I’m scared of swimming in open ocean water. No lifeguard. No aspect of pool to take a relaxation. And you may’t see the underside. My husband, Mark, loves it. This yr, he swam throughout Lake Tahoe and from Alcatraz to San Francisco.

One time, I joined him and a gaggle of swimmers to leap out of a wonderfully good boat to swim by an island rock arch throughout from Santa Barbara. It began out high-quality. About half means there – I panicked, had hassle catching my breath, and was sure I used to be going to drown. Thankfully Mark was close by – calmed me down and swam with me again to the boat.

Flash ahead to some weeks in the past the place I accompanied him and bunch of Santa Barbara swimmers to Croatia for a “swim trek” to and across the islands of the traditional and historic Adriactic Sea. I let him know I’d primarily be there for the tan.

Once within the boat… It occured to me that this was a second I’d have the opportunity overcome my worry. I jumped into the nice and cozy salty sea… swam a bit.. panicked, misplaced my breath and rotated again to the boat. Then I attempted once more later… this time respiratory and swimming extra slowly to the purpose the place I used to be beginning to really feel uncomfortable once more. Then tried once more the subsequent day… the place the group swam to a “blue cave.” This was useful since I had a transparent beginning and stopping level… and it was superior. I made to the cave to cheering swimmers. The subsequent day.. we swam round an island. I leap in and swam… felt the rhythm of my breath, appeared across the water at fish… and acquired out and in of the boat as I felt extra comfy swimming longer and longer. And I swam round that island.

While I’m nonetheless cautious – I’m not panicked about swimming within the ocean. It simply took some small steps, altering my habits, having clear targets to make, and the encouragement of individuals round me.

At my age or any age… you may nonetheless study new issues that you simply by no means thought you’ll or might do. And generally.. it is the issues which are which are most fearful to beat have even larger rewards… like exploring a blue cave I’d have by no means seen or having fun with an ocean swim with Mark.

While this was about my worry of swimming.. there have been so many instances in life and work that I wanted to step into one thing that I had by no means performed earlier than, leaping in unclear conditions… with an inexpensive diploma of danger.

Turns out these had been a few of the most transformational experiences of my profession and life.

Any pivotal life or work “overcome fear” moments for you? What helped you get there or study from it?