Stop Dreaming and Start Doing
“Stop dreaming about your bucket list and start living it” - Annette White. Last weekend I was able to check something off from my list, learning how to kayak. It had been on my “want to dos” for a few years and was starting to bother me that I hadn’t given it a try. However, there were a few things that stopped me in my tracks: 1. I was not a strong swimmer, 2. I was afraid I wouldn’t be able to gracefully get in or out of the kayak without making a fool of myself and 3. My fear of spiders…..Haha.
When my daughter was younger and attended camp, she climbed into a kayak and shortly after, her and a big black hairy spider had a showdown. The eight-legger won. She ultimately screamed, tried to get the spider with her paddle, and fell overboard. Over the years this visual had stopped me from putting my unsuspecting legs and feet into a kayak.
A few months ago I had been on the phone with a friend and asked her if she wanted to rent some kayaks at a nearby lake. She had a fear of water and told me she’d think about it. Then she told me two of our mutual friends had been doing it for a few years. I reached out to them and immediately they wanted to go. The good news was they had a kayak I could use and it was the sit-on-top variety and I wouldn’t have to subject my lower half to anything creepy or crawly.
One of the friends and I made a plan. I was so excited. The weather forecast looked great, with no rain in sight. However, the morning of, it looked like the opposite and started drizzling as I was leaving. After a few discussions we decided to go and hoped it would stop.
Unfortunately, it didn’t stop but we were determined to launch. My friend gave me a few quick instructions and before I knew it I was in the water navigating getting into the kayak. I got in without too much of a hitch (hip-hip-hooray). Within a few minutes I was on board even though I was feeling a little wobbly. She instructed me not to lean to far to one side. Gotcha - good tip.
For the next hour, she helped me navigate the lake, the waves, the wind, the paddle and the kayak. I was doing it! It was great to be on the water, learning something new, and checking another item off my bucket list. As we headed back to shore she was giving me a few tips on how to dismount. That my friends was a little trickier than getting in. Although I got out just fine, it certainly wasn’t graceful. The day was a great reminder for me to stop dreaming and start doing. Is there something you’ve been putting off? Now’s the time to start living it.
xoxox…..Sheryl
PS….Thanks Shantastic for a great day and lesson. Looking forward to doing it again.