The first time you dive into a body of water is terrifying and exhilarating at the same time. Until you’ve done it (at least once), it is an unimaginable sensation, both physically and emotionally. The rippling pressure of pierced surface tension of the water against flesh that travels from hands-to-head-to-torso-to-toe and the pounding sounds of water collapsing against the skull make for an experience completely unlike anything else. What took hours of coaxing and cajoling and then, ultimately, just casting caution to the wind, and projecting forward into the tank or lake, on repeating the feat, becomes less fear and more thrill.
If you’ve watched divers, you see that no one dies. And no one even gets hurt. But when it’s you that is taking your maiden plunge, well, all sorts of never-before-reported casualties assemble themselves before you. This is a paralyzing imagination.
Noting the shouts of joy and the applause for craftily executed dives should assure the novice of good times ahead, as demonstrated by the veterans.
No matter how long you stand at the edge of your comfort zone, you can’t know what it’s like to dive unless you cross-the-line, and abandon familiar and comfortable terra firma.
Watch experts. Ask lots of questions. Face your (unfounded) fears. The upside of taking a chance is so much greater than the fleeting downside.
It might even be interesting to take your pulse.
Push boundaries today.
