I wiggled my toes, feeling the sand squeeze up between them.
I looked out to the pontoon estimating its distance from the shore, then behind to my family, my unshakeable support crew.
I can do this, I can, at least I think I can, maybe I can’t, what if I can’t,…..and on went the chatter in my mind.
A group of teens swam out, one by one climbing aboard and leaping for joy at their achievement. I wanted to join them.
A man walking his dog paused beside me. “Looks like fun , what are you waiting for?”, he said.
“It has been a while, and I haven’t trained properly” was my answer.
“Oh! Can you swim?” he said.
“Yes, I taught myself. I swam regularly for many years, I even swam competitively once.” I declared.
“So what is holding you back now?” he asked.
“I have never swam outside of a pool and like I said I haven’t been properly trained. I am worried I won’t make it?” I said nervously.
“It sounds like you have all the experience and skill you need,” he said.
“Who are they?” he asked, nodding to my friends and family.
“They are here to support me, cheer me on and help me if I get stuck”.
“Then what do you have to lose?” he asked.
“My pride, I want to know I can do this before I try”, I stammered.
“Tell me” he then asked, “How will you know for certain by standing here?”
I did not answer, I could not answer. I knew there would be no guarantee of success.
The man then asked one final important question, “What will it take for you to believe in your own abilities?”
“I am not sure”, I answered.
We said goodbye and he continued on down the beach and I stood still, pondering the answer to his question.
What will it take for me to believe in my abilities?
The longer I stood there the more my fear and insecurities grew, chipping away at my self confidence.
An entire ocean of possibility lay stretched out before me and it was time to dive in.
I was no longer happy to observe I wanted to swim my own line.
This was my moment, time to believe in myself.
I slowly entered the water……..
Is there something you would love to do? Do you find yourself continually standing by, watching and waiting for the right time to join in?
Is it a class you want to take? A race you would like to attempt? A person you want to introduce yourself too or maybe a group you would like to join?
What one thing can you do today to bring yourself closer to joining in on your dream?
Love it Karen. I am going to share this with a group of people I know! Very true. How do we know until we get involved…
Thanks Nerissa for sharing this around.
I love that Bill Cosby quote more than words. I actually had to leave your site and go pin it because it got me so excited! It’s amazing how we let pride and fear get in the way of us trying. there is never any harm in trying. This was a lovely testament to that.
Ilene a love an enthusiastic pinner, off to find your pins now
Nowadays I take the bull by the horn and fake it till I make it. I used to be scared to fail. No more. Not that I never do, because I do, but if you don’t believe and you don’t try, you’ll just be stuck in the same place that you were. Great quote!
Michelle I love that quote and have been busting to use it. Cheers to growing from our failures.
So glad we’ve met. I love Bill Cosby’s quote too. As I got older, I felt determined to check what I wanted to put in that bucket list with the “someday” tag on it. On my blog, I have written about becoming a skydiver, floating in a hot air balloon, paragliding and an aerobatic glider plane. At 70+, I don’t have time to say “someday” anymore, now it’s “today.”
Neva that is amazing, Hot air balloon is on my list you have reminded me to make this one happen, very soon. Thank you
Once again Karen, such an amazing post to empower us…love it…just what I needed to get me going this morning.
have a great weekend.
Ahh this quote is one of my favorites! Lovely story and such a good reminder. Sometimes we all need to be reminded to live!
Tricia it is such an awesome quote, one of my favourites.
What a great story. Thanks for sharing.
Karen – I love the dialogue here… I feel like I am standing next to you both, listening intently while the conversation ensues! Your wise advisor sounds like Morgan Freeman by the way (in my mind). I love this story and your message (jump!). I love your round quote in the image… now I have to go try that with you as my inspiration! 🙂
“I want to know I can do this before I try.” — This line is such a part of my life sometimes. I think most of us feel that way one time or another. And I go in phases when I feel that way about everything. Thanks for the reminder that I’ll never know if I can do it unless I try. What a beautiful post!
Happy Sharefest!
Keep on having a go, we often amaze ourselves with what we can do if we just overcome the fear of trying.