Pools.
I used to love them as a kid. Then, in my pre-teen years, there was one time when I almost drowned, and pools weren’t as fun anymore.
Lately, I’ve ventured back into pools. After years and years of running, one of my knees isn’t what it used to be, and I’ve resisted the pool. But I’ve heard it’s good for your joints and movement, so I started by just walking in the pool. Today, I started doing the backstroke, and I almost drifted into the deep end. Almost.
I will say it was a win that I even went into a pool, and now it’s an even bigger win that I’m thinking about going into the deep end.
What changed?
One thing that changed is that, as I get older, I’m realizing that I am still the same person with or without my fears. And that was a big ahh ha — my fears don’t make me who I am. And nothing is permanent — everything has its season.
The season for my fear of deep water is leaving. And I don’t need to hold on to it. I can let it go at its own pace. There is power in watching something that once had such a hold on you drift into the night.
As I go through all these transitions this year, it feels fitting that I’m becoming open to venturing into deep water. I’m trusting myself more and more because I know I am strong. Stronger than I could have ever imagined.
