Consider Diving in

A few weeks ago, I took my first-ever water aerobics class. And yes, I may have been one of the youngest people in the class, but let me tell you, I LOVED it.

This new hobby was driven by a few impulses.

The desire to move in novel ways.

The desire to be in the water, even if it is chlorinated.

The desire to shake up my routine.

I can't define what tipped me from the place of consideration into actually signing up and doing it. Perhaps it was driven by nostalgia for the warm summer days of my childhood spent at the local public pool. The empty gallon milk jugs my mom would store in the car to be used as make-shift weights in her own water aerobics classes.

And although I felt a thrill of excitement when I registered for the class, when the morning of my first class finally arrived, I was nervous. As I packed my gym tote with a change of clothes, a swim cap, and goggles, I noticed some familiar sensations -- a tightening of the chest, a sinking feeling in the belly, and the thought; maybe I should just cancel.

As I walked to the gym, I explored what lay beneath that feeling of anxiety.

There was a fear that I might do it wrong.

And right next to that lurked a feeling that others might judge me.

This fear of judgment morphed quickly into feelings of self-doubt.

Even as I found myself in the locker room, fumbling with my new combination lock, I wondered if I should just go home.

Fortunately, I didn't let these moments of hesitation deter me from taking the class.

Once I got into the cool water, armed with floatation weights and a pool noodle, I couldn't contain my glee.

Yes, I didn't know a single soul in the pool.

Yes, I had to ask for help from my classmates to set myself up.

And yes, I certainly didn't get most of the moves right.

But none of these factors diminished the pleasure of this experience. I realized as I floated and swam and moved about I was also smiling. Joyfully exploring this new practice.

And when I needed to ask someone to explain the move we were doing, I found my classmates were happy to offer support.

And when I'd lose my grip on the weight, and it would pop up to the surface of the water, I'd find no one pointing and laughing at me.

And when the class was over, and I was, surprisingly, a bit worn out, I found myself excited to sign up for my next class and try all over again.

And now, I find I can't stop talking about it. And apparently, I'm not the only one feeling the water aerobics vibes.

This experience got me thinking about the things each of us doesn't do because of this fear. What moments of joy do we deprive ourselves of for fear that we might look weird? Or that someone might judge us?

And I wonder what little spark of an idea is glimmering in your mind? What new hobby, or adventure, or project are you considering but holding back? What if you were to face that moment of insecurity, knowing that a whole lot of joy might be waiting for you on the other side?

As you contemplate these questions, I'd like to share with you the words of Bianca Sparacino, from her book "A Gentle Reminder."

So keep going--because the world needs your uniqueness. It needs your talent, your art, your mind. The world needs you to take up space within that, so you can change it with the vision that you have. You are so deeply capable of doing something beautiful with your life. Don't let roadblocks, or self-doubt, or the way your journey is unfolding convince you others. Leap towards all that scares and ignites you.

And know that you always have me rooting for you to dive in 🌊