Worth the Risk

Mar 5, 2013 by admin

I went snorkeling yesterday. Even though I was afraid, I went any way. I’m glad I did. The world just beneath the surface is a fascinating, beautiful one, full of color, life, and mystery.

Snorkeling frightens me just a bit. So does horseback riding. It’s a strange relationship that I have with these two activities that I love to do, but am scared as I do them. They make me feel so out of control, so surrendered to the wildness of life, nature, animals.  Perhaps that’s the appeal.

Yesterday, I saw clown fish, an eel, angelfish, some black and white polka dotty thing, a kole (I think), a bright yellow fish, a couple of fish who swam together and who, I swear, glowed orange just a little, and a deep, vast, murky sea, the bottom of which seemed unreachable, ominous, and full of dark wonder.

I climbed out of the ocean better for having gone in. My appreciation for the imagination of a flamboyant, colorful Creator grew just a bit. My understanding of how very, very small I am in a big, wild world humbled me appropriately. And, as the sun dried the salt to my skin once I was back on terra firma, I gave myself a pat on the back for being badass enough to do the thing I was afraid of.

Maybe that’s the sweet spot that I should live my life within—that thin line between fear and courage, risk and reward, prudence and passion. One thing, one moment, one decision, one choice at a time.

Only those who will risk going too far can possibly find out how far one can go. – T. S. Eliot

Peace and Blessings,

Nicole